HC Deb 29 June 1920 vol 131 cc232-3
19. Brigadier-General COLVIN

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can now state under what circumstances Mr. Jabotinsky was conducted to prison and the conditions of his imprisonment?

Mr. CHURCHILL

I am informed that Mr. Jabotinsky was conducted to prison under the escort of a British officer, and travelled first class by rail to Haifa. He walked from the station to the civil gaol, which is quite near, and there spent the night in separate quarters. He proceeded by train the following morning to Acre, and then in a motor ambulance from the station to the civil goal, where he was handed over to the civil authorities by the British officer escorting him. He is confined in division 2 (simple confinement), and is in separate quarters. He is allowed to wear his own clothing and has his own bedding. Any food he wishes may be sent to him. He is allowed exercise in the open every two hours under supervision; facilities for bathing and medical treatment by a doctor from outside the prison if necessary. He has facilities for reading and studying. His wife visits him twice a week, and he is allowed interviews with Zionist friends at any time.

Brigadier-General COLVIN

Is it not the fact that Mr. Jabotinsky rendered great service to this country during the War, both in the field and on the platform, and was he not quite justified in taking steps to protect himself and the Jews in Jerusalem from threatened attacks of the Arabs?

Mr. CHURCHILL

A British tribunal has found otherwise, and that has been the opinion of Lord Allenby. The sentence of fifteen years' imprisonment has been reduced to one year, and is being served under the extremely modified conditions which I have described in detail to the House, and which I took the trouble to have telegraphed to me.

Brigadier-General COLVIN

Will an inquiry be made into the whole circumstances?

Mr. CHURCHILL

The High Commissioner has gone out to Palestine, and Sir Herbert Samuel will have an apportunity of reviewing this, among other cases, after consultation with Lord Allenby and the authorities on the spot. I am not called upon to anticipate in any way the conclusions he may come to.

Colonel WEDGWOOD

Is not an inquiry being held into the occurrences at Jerusalem, and will not Mr. Jabotinsky's imprisonment depend on the result of that inquiry; and when may we expect the result of it?