§ 13. Lieut.-Colonel HOWARD-BURYasked the Secretary of State for the 1893 Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to the numerous resignations of officials in the administration of Palestine; and can he state the reason?
Mr. THOMASFour officers have recently resigned or intimated their intention of resigning in Palestine and one in Trans-Jordan, apart from those whoso services have been terminated by abolition of posts or by transfer on promotion elsewhere. The reasons for resignation have varied in different cases; they have been mainly of a personal character. I should like to take this opportunity of expressing the appreciation of His Majesty's Government for the excellent and devoted work performed during the last five years in Palestine, in circumstances of unusual difficulty, not only by those officers who have recently left the Administration, but by all the members of the Palestine service.
§ Lieut.-Colonel HOWARD-BURYAre not those resignations due to dissatisfaction with His Majesty's Government's policy in regard to the Arabs in Palestine?
Mr. THOMASOn the contrary, I have looked into the resignations, and I find that there are personal reasons, all of which satisfy me that the officers are themselves particularly interested as distinct from dissatisfied.
Lieut.-Colonel Sir F. HALLIs it not a fact that the General Officer Commanding Palestine, General Tudor, has practically discharged his own services through his ability to save such a large amount of the expenses in Palestine?