only the British police were armed. The local constables carried sticks.
For the last forty-eight hours, the Palestine government had been feverishly engaged in taking measures to forestal any trouble that might result from the contemplated demonstration.
Despite the fact that the Arab Executive threatened to blacklist any of its members who did not take part in the demonstration, the moderates among the Arabs, supported by the Mayor of Jerusalem, Ragheb Bey Nashashibi, took no part in the demonstration and sent agents all over Palestine to induce the Moslems incited by the Arab Executive not to come to Jerusalem and to take no part in the demonstrations.
A very strong guard was placed at the Jaffa Gate, as the police had originally intended to allow the demonstrators to proceed by way of King David Street and the Holy Sepulchre, but not to allow the procession to go beyond the Jaffa Gate.
However, today the Jewish population of Jerusalem breathes more freely. The alarm felt by the Jews, especially those of the old city among the Arabs, has been dissipated. Hundreds who had left their homes to take shelter elsewhere are returning home.
The Acting High Commissioner, John H. Hall, conferred with police, military and air force chiefs and strategic positions were carefully studied. The authorities announced that they were capable of dealing with any situation that might have arisen, since they felt that they had sufficient forces to meet any emergency.
Hundreds of Jews living in exposed sections, left their homes and the shops both of Jews and Arabs were closed in anticipation of trouble. Tension hung over the city as everyone waited to see what Friday, the day of the demonstration, would bring.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
