§ 15. Mr. T. Williamsasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the discussions on Palestine which took place recently in Egypt are a continuation of the London Conference; and has he any statement to make on them?
Mr. M. MacDonaldThe answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. Since the London Conferences came to an end His Majesty's Government have been considering their future policy in Palestine. In informal discussions before they left London the delegates of some of the neighbouring Arab States expressed certain views and raised certain points connected with His Majesty's Government's intentions, and the informal discussions which have taken place have been concerned with the elucidation of those points.
§ Mr. WilliamsAs the statement made at the end of the London Conference was that the Government would now explain their own policy to be superimposed on Palestine, if informal conversations have been taking place for the purpose of elucidation with Arab delegates, why have not similar conversations taken place with Jewish delegates?
Mr. MacDonaldAs I say, the delegates of certain Arab States took the initiative m raising certain points in connection with policy, which they were perfectly entitled to do, and we have had informal discussions with them on those points. It is perfectly open for the representatives of the Jewish Agency to have the same thing if they wish to.
§ Mr. WilliamsWhen the Egyptian Minister travelled from this country to Egypt to continue the conversations with the representative of the Jewish representatives, can the right hon. Gentleman say whether or not the Egyptian Minister conveyed from His Majesty's Government any variation in the policy of His Majesty's Government as previously submited to the London Conference?
Mr. MacDonaldI am not aware that he did, but it is no business of ours. It was not at our suggestion that the Egyptian Minister went to Cairo, nor was it at our suggestion that Dr. Weizmann went to Cairo.
§ Mr. WilliamsMay we take it that other terms have been submitted to the Arab delegation?
Mr. MacDonaldThey have made certain points and have expressed their views, and it was in order to elucidate the points which they had in mind that we made certain inquiries of the Egyptian Ambassador.
§ Mr. MaxtonWill the right hon. Gentleman inform the House as to the nature of the points that the Arabs raised?
Mr. MacDonaldNo, I think it would be undesirable to give any partial revelation of the discussions, either formal or informal, that have taken place.
§ Mr. ManderWill the right hon. Gentleman say whether any contacts took place with the Jewish representative who happened to be in Cairo at the time when these conversations were taking place?
Mr. MacDonaldThe contacts which took place, I understand from Press reports, were between the Egyptian Prime Minister and Dr. Weizmann. I am not aware of the nature of the discussions, and they are not part of any discussions which are taking place with representatives of His Majesty's Government.
Mr. MacDonaldIt was perfectly open for the representatives of the Arab States who had been invited to the Conference by His Majesty's Government to raise points after the Conference had finished, and it does not necessarily follow that all these discussions have got to be revealed to other interested parties, at any rate, at this stage.