§ 67. Colonel WEDGWOODasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether it is contemplated to float a fresh Palestinian loan for some £2,000,000; and for what purposes will the loan be used?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Sir Philip Cunliffe-Lister)No loan is contemplated, apart from the loan of £2,000,000 for which a guarantee was approved last year. This loan has not yet been issued.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether it is intended to issue this loan, whether it is necessary to obtain Treasury sanction first, and whether in view of the £4,500,000 surplus in the new Palestinian Budget, it is worth while borrowing money at all?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERThe House gave unanimous approval to the issue of this loan. As regard Treasury consent, one always agrees with the Treasury as regards the time and the circumstances.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODHas the time yet come for the issue of that loan?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERWhen the correct time arrives the loan will no doubt be issued.
§ 68. Colonel WEDGWOODasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the recent order concerning citizenship in Palestine affects, respectively, the right of British citizens to demand an English judge to try cases in which they are concerned and the right of a British subject to take up Palestinian nationality without surrendering his British nationality?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERThe effect of the Order-in-Council and of certain Ordinances which will come into force at the same time is not to take away from British subjects the rights they now enjoy but to confer upon all persons in Palestine similar rights in relation to the trial of their cases. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.