§ 73. Mr. T. Williamsasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the three Hebrew dailies in Palestine, Davar, Haaretz and Hatzofeh have been suppressed or their licences cancelled because they printed a statement by the Jewish National Council for Palestine protesting against the land regulations; and what action he has taken in the matter?
Mr. M. MacDonaldI understand that the permits to publish of three Hebrew papers were temporarily revoked as the result of their publication on 28th February of a statement by the Jewish National Council for Palestine which had been prohibited by the censor. Their permits were reissued on 2nd March.
§ Mr. WilliamsCan the right hon. Gentleman say why the permits were withheld, since within that document there was a definite declaration of Jewish loyalty to the Allied cause during the war?
Mr. MacDonaldThey were withheld not directly because of anything that was 1196 in the document, but because they published the document in defiance of a ban put upon it by the censor.
§ Mr. WilliamsIs it a crime for any section to publish any expression of feeling that they may have upon the right hon. Gentleman's policy?
§ Mr. LeachIs it the intention of the right hon. Gentleman to make Palestine into a totalitarian State?
§ Mr. McGovernHave we now to say "Heil, MacDonald"?