§ 52. Colonel WEDGWOODasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the Government of Transjordan has given to certain Arab refugees 100,000 dunams of land between Amman and Derna free of tax for the first five years with the promise of a water supply and protection from Bedouin raids; and, if so, why the Government of Palestine and Transjordan does not provide similarly for Jewish refugees from Eastern Europe?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Mr. Ormsby-Gore)The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. As regards the second part, my right hon. Friend is advised that the area of land in Palestine to which the Government have an unchallengeable title is very limited. The Article of the Mandate for Palestine which relates to Jewish immigration does not apply to Transjordan.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODAm I to understand that there has been no settlement of refugee Arabs in Transjordania, and can the right hon. Gentleman let us know when the Government are likely to know what Crown lands they do possess in Palestine?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREWith regard to the first part of the supplementary question which has been put to me, this question is the first time we have had any knowledge of any settlement by the Transjordania Government of refugees from the raided areas in Transjordania. With regard to the second wart of the supplementary question, surveys are going on, and notices are being from time to time put up so that claimants can put forward any claims to land, but in view of the great complexity of the old Turkish land laws and the old cadastral surveys, it would be a most laborious business to find out who has and who has not title to the land in Palestine.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODTen years is a long time.