HC Deb 12 July 1939 vol 349 c2231
43. Colonel Wedgwood

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the nine cases of alleged unprovoked assaults on inoffensive Jews by Britishers in civilian clothes all took place in Jerusalem; and whether the rank and file of the British Army in Palestine wear civilian clothes?

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

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, I understand that it is the privilege of all ranks of the British Army to wear plain clothes when off duty, although in Palestine there is little opportunity for this.

Colonel Wedgwood

In that case has the right hon. Gentleman still any doubt that these outrages were the work of the police and not of the Army; and would not the best cure for this, perhaps, be that these inoffensive Jews should be a little less inoffensive?

Mr. MacDonald

I cannot add to the answer I gave to the right hon. and gallant Gentleman's previous question.