§ 21. Major-General Sir ALFRED KNOXasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why the number of immigrants permitted to enter Palestine in the first eight months of the present year was over five times as great as the number immigrated during each of the two preceding years?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERThe main reason for the increase is the great improvement which has recently taken place in the economic position of Palestine. This has rendered the country attractive to immigrants of the self-supporting class, and has also made it possible for the High Commissioner to approve larger half-yearly quotas for the admission of immigrants of the wage-earning class.
§ Sir A. KNOXIs it not more probable that this large increase in the number of Jewish immigrants was the direct cause of the Arab revolt?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERNo, Sir. I certainly should not accept a statement of that kind.
§ Sir A. KNOXIs it not an extraordinary coincidence that there should be this enormous increase?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI very much regret that that suggestion has been made. The policy of His Majesty's Government, carried out impartially by the High Commissioner, is that the immigration into Palestine is directly governed by the absorptive capacity of the country.
§ 22. Colonel WEDGWOODasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is, as a, result of the Arab riots in Palestine, making any change in the policy of admitting Jews into Palestine?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERNo, Sir.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODAre we to understand that the riots by Arabs against Jews have no connection with the round up and deportation of Jews which is going on now?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERThat seems to me to have nothing whatever to do with the question which the right hon. and gallant Gentleman has asked. He asked whether there is any change in the policy of His Majesty's Government in relation to immigration. The answer to that question is "No."
§ Colonel WEDGWOODIs the rounding up and deportation of Jews in Palestine an old policy, or is it a new policy?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERThere the right hon. and gallant Gentleman is under a misapprehension. The total number of immigrants who go into Palestine must be the number authorised by the High Commissioner. It is, I should think, the best policy for everybody concerned to see that the immigrants entering Palestine are authorised immigrants entering through proper channels, and not unauthorised immigrants who are coming in.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODAs about 20,000 have come in, does the right hon. Gentleman really contemplate deporting the lot and sending them back to Germany?
§ 35. Colonel WEDGWOODasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the proposed legislative assembly for Palestine will be given control of the police?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERNo, Sir. I thought I had made it plain in my answers to the right hon. Member last week that the establishment of a legislative council has never been intended to supersede the executive authority of the High Commissioner.