Chancellor, J.R., High Commissioner. Proclamation [emergency measures of the British Government concerning the 1929 riots]

On August 23rd, 1929 an Arab mob attempted to attack the Jews in Jerusalem, following a ten-month build-up of tension over the disputed rights of Jews to pray at the Western Wall. The outbreak of violence spread to other parts of the country and on the following day, the Arabs murdered some seventy Jews in Hebron. In the week of bloody violence that ensued, there were attacks in Tel Aviv and Haifa, and 18 Jews were killed by an Arab mob in Safed. Before the week had passed, large detachments of British troops were brought in before order was restored. In this Emergency Decree, the British High Commissioner for Palestine, Sir John Chancellor announced special powers were to be given to the Courts in conducting the trials of those arrested. The aim being to ensure a fair trial and to determine whether the attacks were spontaneous or premeditated. Sir John also announced the formation of a Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry to be headed by Sir Walter Shaw to inquire into the immediate causes of the outbreak of violence. Finally, he concludes, the incidents will not alter British Government policy with regard to Palestine as laid down in the 1917 Balfour Declaration, namely to establish in Palestine a National Home for the Jews