HC Deb 01 May 1940 vol 360 cc696-7
27. Captain A. Graham

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what were the reasons for which the head of the Agricultural College at Tel-Aviv was recently sentenced to imprisonment; and to what extent American Zionists were implicated in this case?

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

I think my hon. and gallant Friend must be referring to recent events at the settlement of Ben Shemen. Eleven Jews, including the Director of the Agricultural School, were arrested in connection with the seizure of arms in the settlement, and were tried on the charge of being jointly in possession of arms, ammunition and bombs contrary to the provisions of Emergency Regulation 8 C. The Director was acquitted of this charge, but the Manager of the School and seven of the remaining defendants were sentenced to varying terms of imprisonment. As regards the second part of the Question, I have no information to show that American Zionists were in any way connected with this case.

Mr. T. Williams

Since the arms, found long after the suppression of the rebellion, have been accumulated as a means of defence and not as a means of offence, does the Colonial Secretary think that the sentences inflicted on these five or six persons are really justified?

Mr. MacDonald

These particular secret arms were quite unnecessary for defence because there were other authorised arms provided for the defence of the settlements.

Mr. Williams

Is there any case on record where any of these firearms have been used?

Mr. MacDonald

Under the Regulation the secret possession of them was contrary to the law of Palestine.

33. Mr. T. Williams

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many Jews are serving terms of imprisonment in Palestine for being in possession of firearms during the period of the Arab rebellion; how many of the sentences exceed 12 months; and in how many cases has the sentence been reduced since the Jewish community offered unconditionally their wholehearted support to the Allies?

Mr. MacDonald

105 Jews are serving terms of imprisonment in Palestine for offences in connection with the possession of arms, bombs and explosives during the period April, 1936, to the present date. In all these cases the sentence exceeds 12 months. No sentences have been reduced for the reason suggested.

Mr. Williams

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that the time has now arrived when these sentences ought to be revised, particularly in view of the fact that these firearms were held very largely not as a means of offence but of defence against those who had been attacking them for the last two or three years?

Mr. MacDonald

Stores of arms were provided by the local administration for the proper protection of these settlements and the possession of these other firearms is quite unnecessary for this purpose. As regards the other question, I do not think the time has arrived as suggested, particularly as a number of the offences have been committed since the outbreak of war.

Mr. Williams

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that Jews as well as Arabs were being killed off almost daily during the course of the rebellion, and that whatever arms the Government may have held they were ineffective in many outlying settlements? Since the sentences were for three or five years will he not consider the question of revision?