§ 14. Mr. RANKINasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he can now make any further statement as to the steps which will be taken to prevent the falling into ruin of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI cannot at present add anything to the reply given to the Member for East Willesden (Mr. D. G. Somerville) on the 31st January, of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy.
§ Lord APSLEYIs the right hon. Gentleman taking any special measures to protect the Holy Sepulchre, including the tomb and famous church?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI understand that measures are to be put in hand that will protect the whole of the Church.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODIs British money, or Palestinian money, being used for this purpose?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERCertainly there is no charge upon the British taxpayer. At the present time no money, I think, is being expended. An expert is making reports as to what can be done.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODDoes the right hon. Gentleman realise that it is not fair to take the money of Jews and Moslems in order to rebuild a Christian Church?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI must deprecate statements of that kind. This is a great world memorial, and it is obviously in the interests of the country in which it is situated that it should be maintained.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODIs it not a fact that the other day the Patriarch of the Holy Sepulchre was raising funds by selling titles, and can he not get money in a better way?