§ Colonel WEDGWOOD by Private Noticeasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has any news of the hunger striking in the Palestine gaols and how many are at present striking?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Sir Philip Cunliffe-Lister)I have obtained a report from the High Commissioner for Palestine, stating the following facts. Sixty-eight Jews who were detained in Acre gaol following conviction for illegal entry into Palestine declared a hunger strike after evening meal on the 12th February as a protest against their continued imprisonment after the expiration of the sentences imposed upon them by the Courts. In every case an order of deportation had been made immediately upon committal by the Inspector-General of Police in the exercise of authority vested in him under Section 10 (1) of the Immigration Ordinance, and subsequently warrants of detention were issued by the High Commissioner under Section 10 (8) to cover any period of custody after the expiry of court sentences which might be necessitated by delay in completing the formalities of deportation. This is the normal procedure followed in all cases of conviction for illegal entry.
Actually on the day of the hunger strike the court sentences were still unexpired in 12 cases. In the remainder they had run out and negotiations with regard to deportation were proceeding. Although there was good reason to believe, and enquiries have since shown, that most if not all these 68 Jews are of European nationality other than Russian, each affirmed on arrest that he was a Russian, and each gave a false name and falsified other particulars of identity. No passports or other travel documents were found in their possession. The police have therefore to make complicated and necessarily protracted enquiries through agents in Syria, Greece and elsewhere. So far nationality has been established in 40 cases, mostly Polish, but including a few Hungarians and Czecho-Slovakians, and the foreign consuls concerned in Palestine have accordingly been asked to expedite the grant of travelling facilities. Enquiries continue with a view to establishing nationality in the remaining cases.
34 The High Commissioner has generally no objection to the acceptance of suitable bail bonds, and he accordingly gave instructions that any of the 68 persons whose court sentences had expired might be released on a bond of £100 by each of two reputable sureties undertaking to produce him at the end of two months, or sooner if called upon by the police, or alternatively to prove that he had left the country. On becoming aware of these instructions the prisoners broke their fast on the afternoon of the 14th February. The hunger strike was not complete. Seven prisoners took food on the 13th February and the rest took liquid throughout the duration of the strike. The strikers were examined daily by the prison doctor and found in good health with the exception of two who were admitted to the hospital ward on the morning of the 14th February and who were due to be discharged yesterday.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODHow long is the right hon. Gentleman going to put in prison and keep in prison these unfortunate Jews, whose only crime is that they want to enter Palestine?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERIt is perfectly well known to every hon. Member of the House, if not to the right hon. and gallant Member, that illegal immigration into Palestine on the part of Jews or anybody else is an offence against the law. It is in the interests of the country that entry into Palestine of Jews should be in a properly authorised way. It is surely in everyone's interest that illegal immigration should be stopped.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODThe House is aware, if the right hon. Gentleman himself is not aware, that this practice of gaoling people who are fugitives from Europe does not redound to the credit of this Government.