HC Deb 07 May 1923 vol 163 cc1889-90
14. Mr. PETO

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he has any information as to whether Haj Tewfik Hammad, Vice-President of the first Palestine Arab Congress and formerly representative of Palestine for many years in the Turkish Parliament, has been indicted, with six other notables of Nablus, on the ground that he has encouraged certain voters not to participate in the election, and whether he has satisfied himself that there is any justification for the accusation?

Mr. ORMSBY-GORE

I understand that a prosecution has been instituted in connection with the proceedings of certain persons in the Samara district at the time of the elections. I am asking for further details.

Mr. PETO

Is it an indictable offence in Palestine to do what is an ordinary incident of elections in this country?

Mr. ORMSBY-GORE

I understand that the prosecution—I have not the details—is a prosecution for intimidation.

16. Mr. PETO

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has received complaints from the Arab community in Palestine that in the recent abortive elections such secondary nominations as were made were obtained in many cases by fraud and threats, and even forgery; and whether he will hold an inquiry into the methods in which the elections have been conducted?

Mr. ORMSBY-GORE

The answer to both parts of the question is in the negative.