§ Mr. PETO(by Private Notice) asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has had any report of the attack on a peaceful delegation of Arabs by police in Jerusalem in which several persons were wounded, and whether he is aware that the incident arouses great indignation throughout the whole Arab population of Palestine; and whether he will take immediate steps to ensure that the mandatory Government of Palestine acts in future with strict justice and impartiality to all races, and particularly promotes friendly feeling among the Arab population, and to allay the bad feeling created by the incident?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREThe facts of the incident are as follows: A proclamation was issued by the Palestine Arab Executive advising stoppage of work and closing of shops on Wednesday 14th, in honour of attitude adopted by the Arab nation at the elections. The Delegation arrived at Jerusalem Station on the same day. The cars conveying the members of the Delegation were accompanied by a large crowd of people proceeding at foot's pace for several hours. The police came in contact with the crowd at one point, when attempting to arrest certain individuals who were shouting provocative and abusive anti-Jewish and pro-Turkish songs. The arrests were made and the crowd dispersed. The behaviour of all sections of the police in trying circumstances was very good. The Delegation would probably have reached home quietly if it had not been for the proclamation issued by the Arab Executive. All is now quiet.