§ 9. Mr. Manderasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies the present position with regard to the organisation of Jewish military forces in Palestine; and whether he is aware that, at the outbreak of war, the Jewish Agency organised the registration of the Jewish community for national service and obtained responses from 80,000 men and 50,000 women?
§ The Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies (Mr. George Hall)As regards the first part of the Question, there are no specifically Jewish military forces in Palestine. The majority of Palestinian Jews who have enlisted into the British Army have joined the Palestinian Companies of the Auxiliary Military Pioneer Corps, but a few have joined other corps, mainly R.A.S.C. and R.A.O.C. Further additional Palestinian Companies are now being formed for infantry battalions stationed in Palestine, enlistment into which is open to Jews equally with other inhabitants of Palestine. The answer to the second part of the Question is in the affirmative.