98. Mr. PETOasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether delegations from the Palestinian Arabs have been in official communication with the Colonial Office during the last 18 months; if so, whether they have expressed strong dissatisfaction as existing among the Arab population of Palestine with the policy of establishing in their country a Jewish national home; and what steps the Government proposes to take in consequence?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREWith regard to the first and second parts of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the White Paper published in June, 1922, as Command Paper No. 1700. The third part of the question raises matters of policy that cannot conveniently be dealt with by question and answer.
Mr. PETOSeeing that it is only since June of last year that the wishes and desires of the vast majority of the people of Palestine—the Arab population—have become known to Members of this House, how can a White Paper published in June last have any bearing on this question?