35. Earl WINTERTONasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is yet in a position to state when the Report of the Com- 1307 mission to inquire into the outbreak in Palestine will be published; and whether its publication will be followed by any statement by His Majesty's Government in Great Britain, as the mandatory Power, regarding the causes of the outbreak and the means to be taken to avoid them in future?
§ Dr. SHIELSThe answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The Report has not yet been presented. When it is in their hands His Majesty's Government will consider what procedure can most appropriately be adopted in regard to it.
Earl WINTERTON WINTERTONHaving regard to the fact that nothing that the Report can say or will not say will affect the ultimate responsibility of His Majesty's Government for the cause of the outbreak, why is the hon. Member not in a position to say when the statement will be made?
§ Dr. SHIELSI think the Noble Lord is a little unreasonable. We do not know what the Report will say or suggest. It may say that nothing is necessary to be done. It is obvious that we must wait until the Report is in our hands before we can make a statement on it.
Earl WINTERTONHow can the hon. Member say that no statement will be necessary, when all the Powers represented at Geneva and also this House are anxious to know what are the views of His Majesty's Government?
§ Dr. SHIELSI did not say that no statement would be necessary. I said that we must await the receipt of the Report before we know whether or not it is necessary to issue a statement.
§ Mr. WARDLAW-MILNEIs it necessary for the Government to wait for the Report in connection with the late disturbances? Is it not desirable that the Government should at once consider the appointment of a much larger Commission to go into the whole question of the government of the country?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat does not arise out of the question.