§ 74. Mr. T. Williamsasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has any information to give the House as to the position of affairs in Palestine?
§ 75. Mr. Manderasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has any statement to make with reference to the conference between Arabs and Jews with regard to the future of Palestine and as to the situation in Palestine generally?
Mr. M. MacDonaldMost of the delegates representing the Palestinian Arabs and the Governments of Egypt, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Transjordan and the Yemen, and also the representatives of the Jewish Agency, have already arrived in this country. But a few of them have still to arrive, and also the question of the representation of the Palestine National Defence Party is still under consideration. I anticipate that this matter will be settled and that all the delegates will arrive in London in time for the formal discussions to be opened next Tuesday, 7th February. In the meantime preliminary discussions on procedure are being held between the various delegations. As regards the situation in 45 Palestine, further progress has been made during the past month in the restoration of order. The close control established by the military authorities has made it increasingly difficult for large bands of terrorists to operate, and rebel activity has recently taken the form of numerous isolated acts of terrorism and sabotage.
§ Mr. WilliamsWill any Palestinian Arabs, apart from those representing the point of view of the Mufti, be represented at the forthcoming conversations?
Mr. MacDonaldI said in my answer that the question of the representation of the Palestine National Defence Party is still under consideration. The matter is not yet finally settled.
§ Mr. WilliamsCan we have an assurance from the right hon. Gentleman that more than one section of Palestinian Arab opinion will be represented at the conversations?
Mr. MacDonaldI should not like to add anything further at present to the statement I have already made.
§ Mr. ManderHave any discussions taken place with the Arabs with reference to the admission of 10,000 Jewish children to Palestine, and have the Arabs refused permission?
Mr. MacDonaldNo, Sir. Discussion on that has not taken place yet. The discussions so far are preliminary discussions on procedure.
§ Mr. WilliamsIn view of the assurance given to me by the right hon. Gentleman before Christmas, will he make that one of the early questions to be dealt with at the Conference?
Mr. MacDonaldThe assurance I gave was that His Majesty's Government would keep that matter in mind. Until the full representation has arrived, it is impossible to start discussions on any of the major questions for consideration.
§ Mr. ManderDoes the right hon. Gentleman not know that the Arabs are boasting that they have stopped Jewish children going to Palestine?