HC Deb 07 December 1938 vol 342 cc1149-52
82. Mr. T. Williams

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can make any further statement regarding the progress of arrangements for the discussions in London with Arabs and Jews?

The Secretary of State for the Colonies (Mr. Malcolm MacDonald)

Yes, Sir. Invitations to send representatives to London for the discussions have now been accepted by the Governments of Egypt, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Trans-Jordan and by the Jewish Agency. A formal invitation has been sent to the King of the Yemen. With regard to the possibility of representatives of the Arabs of Palestine also coming to London, as I have already announced, the Government intend to grant facilities to attend the discussions in London to any person at present deported or excluded from Palestine who may be selected. In order that the persons who have been deported to the Seychelles may be readily available, if their services should be required, it has been decided to release them as soon as transport can be arranged. The release of these deportees will be final, and they will be allowed to proceed to any destination except Palestine, to which country their admission is regarded as undesirable in present circumstances.

Mr. Stephen

Have any steps been taken to have representatives of the Arab fellaheen, as well as the Arab effendis, selected?

Mr. MacDonald

The selection of the representatives of Palestinian Arabs must be primarily a matter for the Palestinian Arabs themselves.

Mr. Attlee

How is the selection to be made? Is it to be a selection only of notables, who will select merely people from the upper classes, or will there be any chance for the poorer Arabs to get any representation if they come over here?

Mr. MacDonald

Obviously, it is not for the Government to select representatives. That has never been suggested. It must be left to the Palestinian Arabs themselves to make their own selection. As far as the different classes in Palestine are concerned, I am not aware that there is much difference of view amongst them on the political questions involved.

Mr. Attlee

What is the machinery by which the selection of the Arab delegation is to be made?

Mr. MacDonald

I understand that certain consultations are taking place. I cannot say any more than that.

Mr. Attlee

Are consultations taking place with the Arab workers or the Arab fellaheen?

Mr. MacDonald

That is not a matter for the Government or the High Commissioner. We must leave this primarily to the Arabs themselves.

Mr. Attlee

Is it not a matter for this Government to see that there shall be adequate representation of all sections of the Arabs? Therefore, it is not possible to pass this off by suggesting that this is a matter for the Arabs themselves, unless the right hon. Gentleman can tell us what is the machinery whereby different sections of Arabs are going to make the selection.

Mr. MacDonald

I cannot make a statement on that matter at present. I am fully aware of the considerations the right hon. Gentleman has mentioned, but I might add this, that I think it probable that if the Government themselves were to intervene in the matter and start to nominate representatives, the result might be that no Palestinian Arab representatives would visit this country.

Mr. Stephen

Is there going to be any representation, for example, of the Arabs organised in the railway trade union in Palestine?

Mr. MacDonald

I am not aware yet what Arab representatives may come to London. It is a matter which, in all the circumstances, it is far better to leave to the Arabs.

Sir Percy Harris

Do not the Government in Palestine extend these invitations to representative organisations; and will the right hon. Gentleman see that the organisations representing the common people are included?

Mr. MacDonald

I think it desirable that there should be representation of different sections of political opinion amongst the Palestinian Arabs, but I cannot agree that the sort of procedure which has been suggested in some quarters would achieve the object of getting Palestinian representation in London.

Mr. T. Williams

What was the body that the right hon. Gentleman invited to select representatives?

Mr. MacDonald

Invitations have been sent, as I announced, to the Governments of certain surrounding countries and to the Jewish Agency. Beyond that no invitation has been sent. No invitation has been formally sent to Palestinian Arab organisations. As I say, certain consultations are taking place, but they have not reached the stage of sending an invitation to anybody.

Mr. Williams

If it is possible to get representations of all sections, will the right hon. Gentleman do all he can to obtain it?

Mr. Gallacher

What about the Arab High Committee members? Will they be represented? [Interruption.] On a point of Order. Is it not in order to ask whether members of the Arab High Committee, who are in the Seychelles, will be allowed to come to the conference if chosen by the Arabs themselves? Am I not in order in getting information on that point? They are the men who matter. There will be no conference without them.