PALESTINE. (Hansard, 5 October 1938)

§ 7. Mr. Mander
asked the Prime Minister whether he will consider the advisability of making representations to 318 the British allied Governments of Iraq and Egypt with a view to bringing to an end the intrigues against the administration of the British mandate in Palestine at present being carried out in these States?

§ Mr. Butler
No, Sir. My Noble Friend is satisfied that the attitude of the Governments of Iraq and Egypt is entirely correct, and that no representations such as the hon. Member suggests are required.

§ Mr. Mander
Could not a direct appeal be made to the members of the Four-Power Pact to cease stabbing the British Empire in the back?

§ Mr. Butler
The hon. Member's question refers to two specific Governments, and we are satisfied as to them.

§ 29. Colonel Wedgwood
asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has any information as to the killing of 21 Jews, including children, at Tiberias; and whether the Jews in Tiberias were protected by police or by troops or were themselves armed?

§ The Secretary of State for the Colonies (Mr. Malcolm MacDonald)
In view of the length of the answer, I will, with the permission of Mr. Speaker and the leave of the House, make a statement at the end of Questions.

Mr. MacDonald
I apologise for the length of the reply, but I think that the House will, perhaps, expect me to take this opportunity to make a general statement about the situation in Palestine.
As regards the deplorable incident at Tiberias, referred to in the question, I have received particulars from the High Commissioner. In the course of their raid on the town the armed gang murdered 19 Jews, including three women and nine children, and three Jews were wounded. At the time of the raid there were 25 Jewish supernumerary police, about 20 British police and a company of British infantry in the town, which is straggling and open. After the arrival of reinforcements the raiders were finally driven out with casualties.
Since the House rose at the end of July the following measures have been taken in the interests of general security, In addition to the brigade which arrived 319 in Palestine during September, further reinforcements of two cavalry regiments and one battalion from this country are now under despatch. Also three battalions of British troops, are on their way to Palestine from India and will arrive next week. The British section of the Palestine police has been increased by some hundreds of ex-service men, and further recruitment is now taking place. The operational control of the whole police force has been placed under the General Officer Commanding, and Sir Charles Tegart has returned to Palestine and been appointed to a post on General Haining's staff. Steps have also been taken to redistribute the duties allotted to the Palestinian section of the police. So far as such duties involve the use of arms, or the likelihood of conflict with Arab insurgents, the employment of Jews has been extended and that of Arabs restricted. Despite these measures, and some considerable successes against the terrorist forces, there has been a serious deterioration in the general situation.
Some days ago I invited the High Commissioner to come to London for the purposes of discussion. He left Jerusalem this morning and will arrive here tomorrow evening. In the meantime the members of the Woodhead Commission have been pressing ahead with the preparation of their report, and I expect to receive this before the end of this month. I can assure the House that when it is received His Majesty's Government will lose no time in considering it and reaching conclusions on policy.

§ Colonel Wedgwood
In the first place, are we to understand from the right hon. Gentleman's answer that the Jews who were murdered in Tiberias were unarmed; and had they not been allowed to have arms? Also, has he considered the suggestion that for every Jew murdered in Palestine there should be permits issued for 50 new Jews to go to Palestine, in order that it might be disadvantageous from the Arab point of view to murder any more Jews?

§ Mr. MacDonald
The answer to the first part of the question is that the Jews who were murdered in Tiberias, with the exception of two Jewish supernumerary police who were amongst the killed, were private individuals. They were unarmed. But, as the answer showed, there was a 320 very considerable armed force in the town, capable of protecting the inhabitants in any normal circumstances. I regret to state that the success of the terrorist band was owing to the extremely clever and unprecedented way in which they entered the town, not as a band but as a series of individuals disguised, entering apparently for a peaceful avocation; and it was after that entrance of a great many individuals by a subterfuge that the signal was given for attack, and the defence forces were taken for a time unawares. As regards the second part of the question, the whole problem of Jewish immigration is settled according to other principles, and I cannot accept the suggestion the hon. and gallant Member makes.

§ Colonel Wedgwood
Were those Jews who were murdered refused permission to have arms? Is there at the present time under sentence of death a Jew who had arms without permission; and cannot this sort of thing be brought to an end by the Jews being allowed to carry arms?

§ Mr. MacDonald
I think it is very doubtful whether the individual Jews concerned in Tiberias were refused permission to have arms. But I have explained that there was a force of 25 armed Jewish supernumerary police included among the forces posted at the entrance to the town. With regard to the second part of the question, there was a Jew under arrest who has now been charged with carrying arms, contrary to the order. I am not certain whether he has been tried yet or whether the result of the trial is known.

§ Sir A. Sinclair
What was the object of this mysterious raid? Was it to obtain arms, or was it merely promiscuous murder of Jews by Arabs?

§ Mr. MacDonald
I think the object, judging by what happened, was simply murder and the destruction of public buildings by fire.

§ Mr. Bellenger
May I ask, in connection with the report which the right hon. Gentleman has given us, whether he has any knowledge that the terrorism which is now existing in Palestine is being excited by external foreign propaganda?

§ Mr. MacDonald
I have no evidence of that.

§ Captain Strickland
Has my right hon. Friend any knowledge as to whether these raiders came over the frontier or whether they were local Arabs?

§ Mr. MacDonald
I cannot say about this particular band, but in general they come from within Palestine, and I think that is true of this particular case also.

§ Lieut.-Commander Fletcher
Has the right hon. Gentleman any information to show who is the individual organising and directing this Arab terrorism? Is it, for instance, the Grand Mufti, who is at present domiciled in French territory in Syria?

§ Mr. MacDonald
I do not think that we have any fresh information on that matter. His Majesty's Government have always taken the view that the Grand Mufti had a great deal of responsibility for what is going on in Palestine to-day.

§ Mr. McGovern
May I ask this question, which I have asked previously? As it is the case from evidence that the Jews are not out to murder Arabs and that they have everything to gain by peace, should not the right hon. Gentleman discriminate between those who are sentenced to death in the Jewish community for having arms to defend themselves against these murderous attacks and others who are out plainly for murder; and will he consider arming the entire Jewish population, especially on the borders, in order to protect themselves?

§ Mr. MacDonald
The answer to the first part of the question is that it is not a matter for me, but for the General Officer Commanding in Palestine, and I am quite certain he carries out his duties with perfect justice to each side. Both sides must observe the law of the country if there is to be any chance at all of this deplorable state of affairs being brought to an end.

§ Colonel Wedgwood
Then change your law.

§ Mr. MacDonald
With regard to the second part of the question, it is the policy of the administration to employ Jews in increasing numbers in the work of maintaining order, and the number of Jews who are employed either as regulars or supernumeraries in the police force amounts now to something between 5,000 and 6,000 persons.

§ Mr. Macquisten
How can there be justice for a man who is not allowed to defend himself?