§ At the end of Questions—
§ Colonel WedgwoodI beg to ask leave to move the Adjournment of the House for the purpose of discussing a definite matter of urgent public importance, namely, the action of the Palestine Government in opening fire on unarmed Jewish refugees on board a Greek ship killing one and wounding two, and the approval of this conduct expressed by the Secretary of State.
§ Mr. SpeakerI think the right hon. and gallant Gentleman will see that none of the conditions of the Standing Order under which he is asking leave to move the Adjournment of the House is fulfilled. The matter has to be definite and urgent, and I do not think it fulfils either of those conditions.
§ Colonel WedgwoodMay I put the matter to you in this way, Mr. Speaker? I suggest that the matter is certainly urgent because there are many of these ships which are liable to meet the same fate. There are quite a number of ships off the coast of Palestine trying to get people ashore and running the same risk. As to its being definite, I do not think there can be anything more definite than what the Secretary of State said in answer to my question?
§ Mr. SpeakerAs to the question of urgency, I understand that these events took place on 1st March, and the information which the right hon. Gentleman received on this question is by no means definite.
§ Colonel WedgwoodI beg to give notice that I will raise this horrible, scandalous matter on the Adjournment at the first possible opportunity?