§ 43. Colonel WEDGWOODasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will lay papers showing the populations of the various towns in Palestine which have been given self- 1744 government under the recent ordinance, distinguishing between Jew and Arab; and whether he can supplement this by showing the voting strength of the two races in the various towns under the proposed franchise?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Sir Philip Cunliffe-Lister)I will ask the High Commissioner for Palestine to furnish such figures as are available with regard to the electorates in the urban municipal areas, and I will communicate with the right hon. Member when I have his reply.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODIs there any possibility of getting those figures by Friday?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERNo, I think not. I am not sure that the figures are available, but I will write to the High Commissioner to ascertain.
§ 44. Colonel WEDGWOODasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether this House will have an opportunity of discussing the question before further steps are taken to give representative or responsible self-governing institutions to Palestine?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERIn replying to a question by the right hon. Member on the 23rd of November last, I made it clear that no proposal had been made for the establishment of responsible government in Palestine. The intentions of His Majesty's Government in the matter of the establishment of a legislative council in Palestine have been clearly expressed on more than one occasion. The matter is one which can be raised on the Colonial Vote if further discussion is desired.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODIs it not a fact that we may be committed to give this legislative council to Palestine without this House being able to discuss the question?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERNo, the right hon. Gentleman can discuss the matter, if he so desires, when the Colonial Office Vote is on the Paper. There has been no change in policy in the last 10 years.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODIs the time getting any nearer? Unfortunately we run the risk now of being suddenly faced with a Constitution for Palestine. I want to know from the right hon. Gen- 1745 tleman whether this House will be able to discuss the matter of the immediate grant, not the question of the ultimate goal, which has been going on for 10 years.
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERIt is not a question of the ultimate goal. It has been plainly stated, both in this House and to the Mandates Commission of the League of Nations, what is the course His Majesty's Government propose to pursue. The policy has been very frequently and clearly stated. It is quite competent for the right hon. Gentleman, if he happens to be in disagreement with the policy, to discuss it at any appropriate opportunity.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODI have taken that opportunity, but I regret to say that I have had no answer from the right hon. Gentleman. I hope I shall get one next time. What I wish to ask is simply this: Before a definite policy is laid down of giving representative institutions to that country, will the Jewish minority be consulted, and will their acceptance be preliminary to any actual grant?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERThat is an entirely different question. What the right hon. Gentleman asked me was what was the policy with regard to the establishment of a legislative council in Palestine? That has been stated absolutely plainly and clearly many times in this House and at the League of Nations, both as to the course and as to the time at which that will take place. I am perfectly ready, on the appropriate Vote, to repeat once again that plain statement, if the right hon. Gentleman so desires.