HC Deb 20 July 1931 vol 255 cc1058-64
65. Mr. MARCUS

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if, in view of the fact that a despatch was recently sent by His Majesty's Government to the High Commissioner for Palestine instructing him to put into force immediately the new Palestine development scheme and to have the scheme promulgated in Palestine on Thursday, 10th July, 1931, which instructions have been temporarily suspended, it is still the Government's intention to submit the development scheme to Parliament prior to its being proceeded with?

Dr. SHIELS

A despatch has been addressed to the High Commissioner dealing with the initial steps to be taken in order to give effect to the policy of His Majesty's Government in regard to agricultural development and land settlement in Palestine. It is being published in Palestine to-day, and, to meet the convenience of hon. Members, I am arranging for a copy to be circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. MARCUS

Will the Under-Secretary state definitely whether it is the intention of the Government to give the House an opportunity of discussing the proposed new development scheme before it is applied?

Dr. SHIELS

That question, I think, should not be addressed to me.

Mr. MARCUS

On a point of Order. This question was addressed by me to the Prime Minister, and it has been transferred to the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies. I think I am entitled to a reply to the second part of the question.

Mr. SPEAKER

They are two distinct questions.

Mr. ORMSBY-GORE

Does the document which is to be issued embody any change in policy from that contained in the Prime Minister's letter to Dr. Weizmann the other day?

Dr. SHIELS

I think it will be found that it is entirely consistent with all the documents that have been issued in that connection.

Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

Are we to understand that no money will be expended on these agricultural development schemes until it has been approved by Parliament?

Dr. SHIELS

I think my hon. and gallant Friend will find a full explanation of the procedure in the document concerned.

Mr. MACLEAN

On a point of Order. With reference to your intervention just now, is it not the case that there is only one question here, namely, as to the intention of the Government in view of certain things that have happened?

Mr. SPEAKER

The supplementary question which was addressed to the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies was one relating to the business of the House, and, as the hon. Gentleman said, to answer it is not his responsibility.

Mr. MACLEAN

When the Under-Secretary stated that it was not his business to deal with the last part of the question, my hon. Friend the Member for Dundee (Mr. Marcus) pointed out that he had originally addressed his question to the Prime Minister.

Dr. SHIELS

I might point out that there may be an opportunity of discussing this matter in the ordinary way in Committee of Supply.

Mr. ORMSBY-GORE

With reference to the hon. Gentleman's last answer, was it not definitely stated by the Government that before any commitment, direct or indirect, of this country was entered into with regard to this Palestine development, there should be a Debate in this House?

Dr. SHIELS

Yes, it was clearly stated that, before approval was given to the guarantee of the loan that is going to be floated in this connection, the whole matter would be brought before Parliament for consideration.

Mr. ORMSBY- GORE

That will require a Bill?

Dr. SHIELS

Yes.

Following is the despatch:

Downing Street,

26th June, 1931.

High Commissioner

Lieut.-Colonel Sir J. R. Chancellor, G.C.M.G., G.C.V.O., D.S.O.

Sir,

As you are aware, I have recently had under consideration the initial steps to be taken to give effect to the policy of His Majesty's Government in regard to agricultural development and land settlement in Palestine.

2. The need of a more methodical agricultural development was made apparent by Sir John Hope Simpson's Report on Immigration Land Settlement, and Development in Palestine (Cmd. 3686). The statement of Policy (Cmd. 3692) issued simultaneously with that report, gave (in paragraphs 21 to 25), a brief outline of the policy to be adopted by His Majesty's Government in this matter, and the policy was further explained in paragraphs 9 to 13 of the Prime Minister's letter to Dr. Weizmann dated 13th February, 1931. It is the intention that the funds required for this purpose should be found by means of a loan which Parliament will be asked to authorise His Majesty's Government to guarantee.

3. I have already been in correspondence with you in regard to the initial steps to be taken for carrying out the policy of His Majesty's Government in regard to agricultural development and land settlement. As a result of this correspondence, the outline of a scheme was drawn up, in consultation with yourself, which was communicated to the representatives both of the Jewish Agency and the Arab Executive for such comments as they might desire to offer.

4. I have since had the opportunity of discussing the question orally with you during your recent visit to England. After all consideration of your views, and of the comments received from the quarters mentioned above, I have approved the revised proposals set out in the following paragraph.

5.—(i) His Majesty's Government will take steps for the appointment at an early date of a Director of Development and a nucleus of staff. The director will be subordinate to the High Commissioner but will be independent of existing Government Departments in Palestine, though in carrying out the work of development he will be in liaison with them.

(ii) The Jewish Agency and the Arab Executive will be invited to nominate one member each to assist the director in an advisory capacity.

(iii) The Director of Development will proceed to carry out the following preliminary work:
  1. (a) He will prepare a register of such Arabs as can be shown to have been displaced from the lands which they occupied in consequence of the lands falling into Jewish hands, and who have not obtained other holdings on which they can establish themselves 1062 or other equally satisfactory occupation. The director in preparing the register will have the assistance of a legal assessor, whose duty it will be to scrutinise claims and advise the director as to the sufficiency of evidence in each case before the claims are admitted.
  2. (b) After the preliminary work of registration, the director will draw up a scheme of resettlement of registered displaced Arab families with as close an estimate as possible of the cost. When the scheme has been approved by the High Commissioner the resettlement will be carried out as quickly as possible.
  3. (c) Further, the director wilt investigate the methods to be adopted to give effect, within the limits of the funds available, to the intention of His Majesty's Government as to the policy of Land Settlement as outlined in paragraphs 10 and 11 of the Prime Minister's letter to Dr. Weizmann in the following terms:
In framing a policy of land settlement, it is essential that His Majesty's Government should take into consideration every circumstance that is relevant to the main purposes of the Mandate. The area of cultivable land, the possibilities of irrigation, the absorptive capacity of the country in relation to immigration are all elements pertinent to the issues to be elucidated, and the neglect of any one of them would be prejudicial to the formulation of a just and stable policy. It is the intention of His Majesty's Government to institute an inquiry as soon as possible to ascertain, inter alia, what State and other lands are, or properly can be made, available for close settlement by Jews under reference to the obligation imposed upon the Mandatory by article 6 of the Mandate. This inquiry will be comprehensive in its scope, and will include the whole land resources of Palestine. In the conduct of the inquiry provision will be made for all interests, whether Jewish or Arab making such representations as it may be desired to put forward. The question of the congestion amongst the fellahin in the hill districts of Palestine is receiving the careful consideration of His Majesty's Government. It is contemplated that measures will be devised for the improvement and intensive development of the land, and for bringing into cultivation areas which hitherto may have remained uncultivated, and thereby securing to the fellahin a better standard of living without, save in exceptional cases, having recourse to transfer.
  1. (d) Such investigation will also include the following items:
    1. (1) The feasibility and advisability of providing credits for Arab cultivators and Jewish settlers, and if so, the best method of achieving this purpose.
    2. (2) Proposals for draining, irrigating and otherwise reclaiming land not at present cultivated or cultivated only to a limited extent.
  2. (e) It is the intention of His Majesty's Government to authorise the High Commissioner to incur expenditure not exceeding £50,000 in the foregoing investigation including all necessary surveys and experiments, such expenditure being met in the first instance from Palestine funds.
  3. (f) The Director will make in reference to each of the above enumerated matters in (c) and (d) estimates as close as the circumstances will allow of the cost of the works proposed, and give an intimation of their order of preference.

(iv) The Director will submit his report or such interim report as can be completed, not later than 31st December, 1931. The High Commissioner will take the report into consideration and will, before submitting recommendations to His Majesty's Government, invite the observations of the Jewish Agency and the Arab Executive upon the practical proposals of the scheme, and will afford them an opportunity of making representations regarding such proposals as have not already received the concurrence of the Jewish and Arab advisers.

(v) The report or interim report as above mentioned will be transmitted by the High Commissioner along with any representations of the Jewish Agency or the Arab Executive thereon to His Majesty's Government who will decide whether effect should be given to the report and its recommendations, or to which of them and in what manner.

(vi) The Bill for the guarantee of the development loan will not be settled until the report or interim report as above mentioned of the Director of Development is received and considered along with the representations, if any, to be made as provided for.

6. I am taking the necessary steps for the selection at an early date of an officer for the post of Director of Development and will address you further upon the subject as soon as I am in a position to do so.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient,

humble Servant,

(Signed) PASSFIELD.