§ 34. Colonel HOWARD-BURYasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the meetings between the British Government and the Jewish agency on the question of the Palestine White Paper have concluded; why the Government have adopted a policy different from that outlined in the White Paper; and whether, seeing that the letter of agreement by Dr. Weizmann has been signed by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and not by the Secretary of State for the Colonies, the mandate is to be transferred to the Foreign Office from the Colonial Office?
§ 37. Mr. ORMSBY-GOREasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the discussions between His Majesty's Government and representatives of the Zionist movement regarding 389 the recent Palestine White Paper are now concluded; whether it is proposed to transfer the supervision of Palestine affairs from the Colonial Office to the Foreign Office; and whether he has any announcement to make regarding the further instructions issued to the High Commissioner in Palestine regarding the various questions raised in the Hope Simpson Report
§ Dr. SHIELSThe reply to that part of the question dealing with the discussions between His Majesty's Government and the Zionist representatives will be given by the Prime Minister in answer to a later question. There is no intention of transferring the supervision of the affairs of Palestine from the Colonial Office to the Foreign Office. The action to be taken upon the various recommendations contained in the report by Sir John Hope-Simpson is still under consideration.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs the hon. Member aware that in Question 34 reference is made to a private letter, which has not yet been published?
§ Dr. SHIELSI am not responsible for the form of the question.
§ 46. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Prime Minister whether he has any further statement to make with regard to policy in Palestine; and whether a further White Paper is being issued?
§ The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Ramsay MacDonald)No, Sir. A Committee of the Cabinet has been exchanging views with the Zionist leaders with regard to the interpretation of certain passages in the statement of policy presented to Parliament in October last. It is proposed to embody the explanations which have been given in the form of a letter to Dr. Weizmann which will be published.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYMay I ask whether the Zionist leaders are now in agreement with the Committee on this matter; whether they have been satisfied?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI think, when the letter is published, my hon. and gallant Friend will find that that is so.
§ Sir AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINThe right hon. Gentleman speaks of publishing the letter; may I ask him to be 390 good enough to lay it as a White Paper before Parliament.
§ The PRIME MINISTERI think under the circumstances that we had better let it go as a letter which will be published. If it were laid before Parliament—I do not know whether the right hon. Gentleman will agree with me in this—it would give the paper a status which it is undesirable it should have.
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINSurely the Prime Minister does not suggest that an undertaking will be given in the letter which would have too binding a force if it was presented as a Parliamentary paper? My suggestion is really in what, I think, is generally regarded as the interests of this House. This House ought to be kept informed on matters of this importance and ought not to be dependent on the daily Press.
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am perfectly willing to meet the views of the right hon. Gentleman, but the White Paper which was published in October last lays down the policy of the Government. Certain explanations were asked for in this House and outside regarding certain expressions and statements which, on further examination, were perhaps not so clear as they might be. I am very unwilling to give this the same status as the dominating document, and, if it will meet the right hon. Gentleman's views, I will have the letter published with the Votes, so that it will become official in that sense.
§ Colonel HOWARD-BURYrose—
§ Mr. SPEAKERI think we have had sufficient supplementaries on this one question.
§ Colonel HOWARD-BURYI had a question on this matter, and I was referred to the Prime Minister. May I not ask the Prime Minister a supplementary question? [Interruption.]
§ Mr. SPEAKERWe cannot take an undue amount of time over one question.