§ 53. Major NATHANasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is now in a position to state when the Report of the Committee of Inquiry into the recent disturbances in Palestine will be published; and whether the evidence will be published at the same time?
§ Dr. SHIELSI am not yet in a position to add anything to previous replies on this subject.
§ 55. Colonel HOWARD-BURYasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can give the numbers of Jews and Arabs that have been sentenced to death in Palestine for the riots of last summer; and whether any of the sentences have been commuted to imprisonment?
§ Dr. SHIELSTwo Jews have been sentenced to death by the Court of Criminal Assize, but according to my latest information their appeals have not yet been heard. Seventeen Arabs have been sentenced to death by the Court of Criminal Assize, and in all cases the sentence has been confirmed by the Court of Appeal. No death sentences have yet been confirmed or commuted by the High Commissioner.
§ Colonel HOWARD-BURYCan the hon. Gentleman say that the reports that these sentences have been commuted to 15 years' imprisonment are untrue?
§ Dr. SHIELSYes, Sir. I understand the position is that a number of those convicted have applied for leave to appeal to the Privy Council, and in the meantime the question of commutation is left over.