§ 27. Mr. HANNAHasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any of the houses recently destroyed in Jaffa possessed archaeological interest; and whether the Government of Palestine is trying to preserve the ancient features of the country?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREIt is most unlikely that any of the houses recently destroyed in Jaffa possessed archaeologi- 1179 cal interest. As regards the second part of the question, the answer is in the affirmative. By an Ordinance enacted as early as 1920 a special Department of the Palestine Administration was established for the protection of the historical monuments and antiquities of Palestine, and this Department has been actively administered.