§ 25. Colonel WEDGWOODasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can yet make any statement as to the exclusion or otherwise from the Palestinian Gendarmerie of the Jewish population of Palestine to which we are both committed and indebted?
§ Mr. AMERYI presume that the right hon. Member's question relates to the proposed new frontier force. The existing gendarmerie, as I think he is aware, is about to be disbanded. Statements which have been made to the effect that Jews are to be excluded altogether from the frontier force are incorrect. A certain number of Jews now serving in the gendarmerie have already been selected for enrolment in the new force. As, however, the frontier force is primarily intended for service in Trans-Jordan, the number of Jews in its ranks will not be great. The re-organisation scheme, which the High Commissioner is introducing, also includes a substantial increase of the establishment of the Palestine Police Force. Jewish members of the gendarmerie, other than those selected for the frontier force, have been offered transfer to the enlarged police force.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODMay I ask whether the new police force, which I gather is the only force in Palestine, is armed or not?
§ Mr. AMERYOh, yes. I do not know about the town or urban police, but in the country the police, who take the place of the old gendarmerie, are an armed force.