HC Deb 05 February 1930 vol 234 cc1891-2
53. Colonel HOWARD-BURY

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether on or about the 26th November, 1929, he received a telegram from the Arab executive in Palestine objecting to the proposed signature of the formal agreement between the Crown agents for the Colonies and Mr. Moses Novomeysky and Major Tulloch for the grant of the Dead Sea salts concession, on the ground that the agreement and concession were contrary to, and an evasion of, Article 11 of the Mandate; and what steps he has taken as a result of this communication?

Dr. SHIELS

I received the telegram from the Arab Executive to which the hon. Member refers. As the hon. Member is aware the preliminary agreement for the grant of the Dead Sea Salts Concession to Messrs. Novomeysky and Tulloch was signed in May last. I see no ground for the contention that the concession was contrary to and an evasion of Article 11 of the Mandate. No action was taken as a result of the telegram.