§ 15. Mr. GALLACHERasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the nature of the duties which members of the Palestine Police Force have been called upon to carry out since the declaration of the Arab strike last April; whether he is aware that British policemen have protested against an attempt to use them as soldiers and that a number were sent home under arrest from Haifa on this account; what was the nature of the 423 demands put forward by the Arab policemen in the district of Jerusalem under threat of strike action if the demands were not conceded; and whether all the demands were granted?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Mr. Ormsby-Gore)The duties of the Palestine Police Force, which is an armed force, are prescribed by various Ordinances, by regulations made thereunder, and by special regulations made by the High Commissioner, since the outbreak of the disturbances, under the Palestine Defence Order in Council. I am not aware of any such protest as that referred to in the second part of the question. I will ask the High Commissioner for information on the points raised in the third and fourth parts of the question.