HC Deb 20 February 1935 vol 298 cc327-9
9. Colonel WEDGWOOD

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will obtain from the High Commissioner for Palestine a report on the division of functions between the Arab Mayor and the Jewish Vice-Mayor in the Jerusalem municipality; and further, whether he will secure that any additional councillor appointed shall be of English birth, so that English standards may be initiated in Jerusalem?

The SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Sir Philip Cunliffe-Lister)

I understand that the first part of the question relates to the arrangements proposed for the conduct of the business of the Jerusalem Municipal Council in the absence of the Mayor. The position is that the High Commissioner has decided to appoint two Deputy-Mayors, one a Jew and the other a Christian, and has decided that the Jewish Deputy-Mayor shall invariably take the place of the Mayor and act for him whenever he is absent through sickness or any other cause. The Mayor has not been absent from duty since the date of his appointment. With reference to the second part of the question, I have already informed the right hon. Gentleman on two occasions that I am not prepared to interfere with the High Commissioner's discretion in the matter of the nomination of additional Councillorso. Sir Arthur Wauchope has recently informed me that he does not propose to make any nominations until he has watched the working of the Councils in Jerusalem and Haifa. He will then consider whether he should exercise his power of nomination or not.

Colonel WEDGWOOD

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he is not aware that we hold him responsible and not the High Commissioner?

Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTER

Yes, Sir, but it seems to me that it is rather a question of whether the discretion for appointing the additional members of the Council should rest with the High Commissioner as vested by law, or with the right hon. and gallant Gentleman.

Colonel WEDGWOOD

That is absolutely insulting. Is it in order to insult a fellow Member of this House? Does the right hon. Gentleman recollect that the Secretary of State is responsible for the administration of the law in Palestine, and that there is in Jerusalem a majority of Jews, and that the High Commissioner or himself has appointed an undue preponderance of Arabs?

Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTER

No, Sir, I cannot take that for a moment. The right hon. and gallant Gentleman has raised that question over and over again.

Colonel WEDGWOOD

I shall do so in future.

Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTER

The law lays down that the High Commissioner shall have the discretion to make or not to make appointments as he thinks fit, and I propose to rely completely in this matter upon the discretion of the High Commissioner, who, I am sure, has the complete confidence of this House.

Colonel WEDGWOOD

That is not the question. [HON. GENTLEMEN: "Order!"] On a point of Order. Is it in order for a right hon. Gentleman on that bench to pretend that this House must not look to him for responsibility instead of looking to other officials?

Mr. SPEAKER

No point of Order arises in the answer the right hon. Gentleman has given.