§ 6. Commander Locker-Lampsonasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that a British vessel has recently fired upon a boat or ship containing refugees when trying to land in Palestine; and will he now allow refugees to land, in view of the fact that the younger ones are willing to enrol either in His Majesty's or the Palestinian forces?
§ The Secretary of State for the Colonies (Mr. Malcolm MacDonald)Yes, Sir. The ship in question attempted deliberately to ram and sink a Government patrol launch, which was therefore obliged to fire on the ship in self-defence. To authorise the indiscriminate landing of refugees in Palestine would worsen rather than improve the security position there, which is at present satisfactory, and for that reason, in addition to others, the answer to the latter part of the question is in the negative.
§ Mr. T. WilliamsMay I ask whether any of these floating human cargoes, which will now be considerably minimised, on the High Seas at the moment, will be permitted to land?
§ Mr. MacDonaldI think the House appreciates that the situation between the Arab and Jewish population in Palestine is very delicate and requires careful handling.
§ Colonel WedgwoodMay I ask whether we cannot now stop trying to please Hitler?