Post by Diarist on Sept 23, 2016 14:33:02 GMT 1
Yesterday we had a fun evening. Before we left the Officer's Club LG Weir told me that he had talked with his counterpart in the Egyptian Army. He has followed my Club recommendation and my proposal in reference to Giza University has been passed on. My name had not been mentioned.
After breakfast I had a long meeting with Orde Wingate, Thomas Shaw and A/Cdre Richard Pierse, the AOC British Forces in Palestine & Trans-Jordan. Not present was General Arthur Wauchope, the High Commissioner and Commander-in-Chief for Palestine and Trans-Jordan (he is in Jerusalem). I'd be meeting him later. I told Richard Pierce that he needs to connect with General Weir and have captured Italian equipment moved to secure locations in Palestine. I gave him a list similar to the one General Weir had received yesterday. He needs to augment his troops as he sees fit but to include more machineguns and mortars.
After he had left we started the SOE meeting. We decided upon joint British-Jewish units in Palestine and joint British-Arab units plus special joint task-forces for counter-terror operations. Orde has plans for a training program. The question of Jerusalem will be dealt with later. As for the partition of Palestine it was felt that the Arabs would reject it while the Jews would accept it but would treat it as the first step to gaining control of the whole territory.
It was recommended that in addition to General Wauchope I meet with David Ben-Gurion and someone from the Haganah and Irgun, (Avraham Tehomi was suggested). Haj Amin al-Husayni, Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, would be the best Arab representative. Al-Husayni has also been meeting the Nazi Representative to Mandated Palestine and thinks highly of Germany. It's time to disillusion him.
After the meeting I telephoned General Wauchope and arranged to meet him this afternoon. He promised to contact the Grand Mufti and invite him as well. I also got a point of contact for David Ben-Gurion then gave the number to Sally. I want to meet him tomorrow morning. I would also like to meet Avraham Tehomi from the Irgun and a top commander from the Haganah. If he speaks English I can do the latter half.
After ten minutes Sally was finally talking with him and after a few more minutes she gave the telephone to me. I explained why I am in Palestine and that I'd like to meet people from both the Haganah and the Irgun. Preferably at the same time so that I don't have say everything twice. I'm not here to negotiate anything between them. We then flew to Jerusalem arriving at 14:30 local time. With me were also Orde and Thomas. In Amman I shall be temporarily reactivating Lawrence of Arabia. He isn't too happy about it but he has agreed to cooperate because I intend that only Emir Abdullah be told. Afterwards he goes back to Alexandria and enjoy his anonymity.
After breakfast I had a long meeting with Orde Wingate, Thomas Shaw and A/Cdre Richard Pierse, the AOC British Forces in Palestine & Trans-Jordan. Not present was General Arthur Wauchope, the High Commissioner and Commander-in-Chief for Palestine and Trans-Jordan (he is in Jerusalem). I'd be meeting him later. I told Richard Pierce that he needs to connect with General Weir and have captured Italian equipment moved to secure locations in Palestine. I gave him a list similar to the one General Weir had received yesterday. He needs to augment his troops as he sees fit but to include more machineguns and mortars.
After he had left we started the SOE meeting. We decided upon joint British-Jewish units in Palestine and joint British-Arab units plus special joint task-forces for counter-terror operations. Orde has plans for a training program. The question of Jerusalem will be dealt with later. As for the partition of Palestine it was felt that the Arabs would reject it while the Jews would accept it but would treat it as the first step to gaining control of the whole territory.
It was recommended that in addition to General Wauchope I meet with David Ben-Gurion and someone from the Haganah and Irgun, (Avraham Tehomi was suggested). Haj Amin al-Husayni, Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, would be the best Arab representative. Al-Husayni has also been meeting the Nazi Representative to Mandated Palestine and thinks highly of Germany. It's time to disillusion him.
After the meeting I telephoned General Wauchope and arranged to meet him this afternoon. He promised to contact the Grand Mufti and invite him as well. I also got a point of contact for David Ben-Gurion then gave the number to Sally. I want to meet him tomorrow morning. I would also like to meet Avraham Tehomi from the Irgun and a top commander from the Haganah. If he speaks English I can do the latter half.
After ten minutes Sally was finally talking with him and after a few more minutes she gave the telephone to me. I explained why I am in Palestine and that I'd like to meet people from both the Haganah and the Irgun. Preferably at the same time so that I don't have say everything twice. I'm not here to negotiate anything between them. We then flew to Jerusalem arriving at 14:30 local time. With me were also Orde and Thomas. In Amman I shall be temporarily reactivating Lawrence of Arabia. He isn't too happy about it but he has agreed to cooperate because I intend that only Emir Abdullah be told. Afterwards he goes back to Alexandria and enjoy his anonymity.