Palestine and Martial Law The failure of every attempt to
bring about a pacifica- tion of Palestine by other means has had its natural sequel in the issue of an Order in Council providing for the promulgation of martial law. By a wise moderation, 'which gives the Arab Higher Committee one more chance to reflect, discretion is vested in the High Commissioner, and martial law will not actually come into operation until he proclaims it. It is becoming every day more apparent that the continuance of disorder will only prejudice the Arab cause. The Jewish leaders in this country are, quite naturally and legitimately, stressing the contrast between the organised self-restraint of the Jewish population in Palestine, and the turbulent irre- sponsibility of the Arabs ; and this propaganda is making inrcals on the sympathy hitherto enjoyed here by the Arab cause. Moreover, everybody knows that the Government will do nothing to consider or remedy the Arab grievances until the Royal Commission has reported. The Royal Commission cannot begin its work until the disorders have ceased. The continuance of the troubles does, from every point of view, more damage to the Arabs themselves than to any other interest ; and on the gradual dawning of this fact on the Arab Higher Committee rest the principal hopes of an early truce. Previous experience of Royal Commissions on Pales- tinian affairs should encourage the Arabs to believe that their case will, at any rate, not be ignored by the Commission.
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