Nippon Times (August 30, 1946)
Trouble is brewing in Moslem World
Harbors germs of international war from Egypt to India centering on Palestine
By Joseph Goodwin
JERUSALEM, August 28 (Kyodo-AP) – The Moslem World, from Egypt to India, appears to be harboring the germs of an international war, with Palestine the focal point of greatest infection.
In 10 months of travel and reporting in Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Western India, Palestine and Persian Gulf countries, have seen only one spot of relative tranquility – Afghanistan.
Political and religious conflicts and the stubborn Russian-British ideological tug war, post a constant threat everywhere.
The Muslim League’s direct action policy is generally credited with delaying Indian independence.
Iran, torn by internal strife and only recently freed of foreign troops, now sees new forces massed near her northern and southern frontiers.
A New Delhi announcement said that a brigade of Indian troops was sent “to protect British and Indian interests in the south Persian oil fields.”
Bloodshed throughout
Blood has flowed in India, Iran and the Holy Land. British warships have anchored off Bahrien, Adadan and Haifa.
As Afghanistan activated modernization plans, officials claimed “complete friendly understanding with the great powers,” but foreign observers said the nation is not altogether free of fear of Russia and suspicion of her neighbor across the Gunstudded Khyber pass.
In Teheran, a foreign diplomat said Russia was stationing troops along the frontier facing Iran. He predicted military action between the Iranian army and the Azerbaijan provincial army “within two weeks, unless a final agreement is effected with the Azerbaijan delegation now in Teheran.
Ghazi Mohammed’s Kurdish tribesmen, quiet since the Azerbaijan conference of two months ago, were reported by foreign military observers as “unhappy” over their party in the negotiations.
Iranian Army leaders fear the Kurds are dealing privately with the Russians, adding that “Kurdistan might form a Russian corridor to the Turkish border and southward to the Persian Gulf.”
In Jerusalem, a British officer said “watch the Iraq-Iran frontier during the next 15 days,” but declined to elaborate.
Rumor British arming Arabs
Rumors persisted at Basra that the British are arming the Arabs.
The Arab states from Iran to Egypt were reported “fully supporting Palestinian Arabs in the move for an independent Arab nation.”
Palestine provides the greatest visual evidence of the spreading of war potentialities.
Acts of physical violence occur daily despite all-out security regulations.
Jewish organizations continue to smuggle illegal immigrants into the country, aide in the escape of those detected, cache piles of arms and ammunitions in the farms colonies and threaten violence if the executions of convicted terrorists are carried out.
An Arab League leader said in an interview he had no hope of settlement of the Palestine problem at the projected London conference, and added his organization is backed by all Arab states in its demand for an independent Palestine under the Arab League.