§ 25. Wing-Commander JAMESasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that, owing to the small gain in time which can be obtained thereby, the Palestine Government has recently transferred its air mail contract from the British service to the Dutch service; and whether, as this small gain is likely to disappear very shortly as a result of fresh developments and in view of the fact that the British Government is now making a large loan to Palestine, he will take steps to persuade the Palestine Government to reverse its decision?
§ 26. Captain PETER MACDONALDasked the Secretary of State for the 2571 Colonies whether his attention has been called to the fact that the Palestine Government has recently transferred their contract for air mails from the British services to the Dutch; and whether, in view of the fact that the ground organisation in Palestine is entirely provided by the former, he will take steps to persuade the Palestine Government to alter its decision in this respect?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI am making inquiries of the High Commissioner. Subject to his confirmation I understand that there is no exclusive air mail contract. I understand that the Dutch mail leaves on Tuesdays and the British on Fridays; and that the Government use for urgent correspondence whichever is available nearest to the date when despatch is required. As regards the latter part of the question asked by the hon. and gallant Member for Wellingborough (Wing-Commander James), if he will refer to the statement which I made on the 14th of July in the Debate on the Colonial Office Vote, he will find that there is no question of the British Government making a loan to Palestine.