§ 11. Lieut.-Commander Fletcherasked the Prime Minister whether he will bring the existing state of affairs in Palestine to the notice of the French Government with a view to their ceasing to afford an asylum, in territory under French jurisdiction, to Arab leaders engaged in fomenting and directing the terrorist campaign in Palestine?
§ Mr. ButlerAs in the case of the ex-Mufti of Jerusalem, close contact has been and is being maintained with the French Government regarding the alleged political activities of other Arab leaders in the territories under French Mandate.
§ Lieut.-Commander FletcherIs it not abundantly clear that the campaign of terrorism in Palestine is controlled, in- 1299 spired and directed by the Mufti from Syria, and is it not impossible to stop this terrorism in Palestine unless it is dealt with at its source in Syria?
§ Mr. ButlerI have informed the hon. and gallant Member that close contact has been and is being maintained with the French authorities.
§ Mr. GallacherIs it not the case that these Arab leaders are fighting for the independence of their country?
§ 43. Commander Locker-Lampsonasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can now state how many times the pipe-line in Palestine has been cut since its inception; and how many Arabs have been responsible for its injury and how many Jews, respectively?
§ The Secretary of State for the Colonies (Mr. Malcolm MacDonald)I am not in a position to supply the statistics for which my hon. and gallant Friend asks. The pipe-line has been attacked on a number of occasions by Arabs. I am not aware that there have been any Jewish attacks upon it.
§ Commander Locker-LampsonIs this not an additional argument in favour of increasing later the number of Jewish people who are allowed to bear arms?
§ Mr. MacDonaldI said in answer to a previous question that the matter is under consideration.