§ 12. Mr. BECKERasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies the amount of the deficiency in the Budget accounts in Palestine during the past year; are the Arabs in Palestine paying taxes; and by whom are the taxes in Palestine levied?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREThe final accounts of the revenue and expenditure of the Palestine Government for the past financial year have not yet been received, and I am therefore unable to state what deficiency, if any, they will disclose. The answer to the second part of the question is in the affirmative. With regard to the last part, taxation is levied under ordinances made by the High Commissioner with the approval of the Secretary of State for the Colonies.
§ Mr. BECKERCan the hon. Gentleman say when the accounts for Palestine for last year will be received; and, with regard to the last part of the question, is that strictly legal and according to the Mandate? Had it not to be confirmed by the Assembly?
§ Mr. ORMSBY- GORENo, the Assembly has nothing to do with the Mandate. The Council is final. It is certainly strictly legal. We conquered this territory with our troops and arms, and we have been collecting taxes ever since. With regard to the first supplementary question, I understand that the accounts are expected very shortly.
§ Mr. BECKERWe conquered Palestine with our troops, but we are not collecting any taxes ourselves, and it is being administered by Jews and not by us.
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREThat is quite untrue.
§ Mr. BECKERIf it be untrue, I beg to withdraw it.
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREIt is British administration. Because the High Commissioner was a right hon. Member of this House, to describe it as a Jewish administration is false.
§ Mr. BECKERI did not mean to insinuate that any one gentleman was responsible. I mean the Assembly, because the Arabs have now refused to have any part in the government of Palestine. I did not mean any individual.