HC Deb 11 December 1941 vol 376 cc1653-4
24. Mr. Culverwell

asked the Home Secretary upon what grounds permission was granted for Mr. Israel Sieff to travel to the United States of America, in view of the propaganda against, and attacks upon, the policy of His Majesty's Government in relation to Palestine in which this man has indulged?

Mr. H. Morrison

An exit permit was granted to Mr. Sieff on 16th September, 1941, to enable him to travel to the United States of America for the purpose of promoting export sales to the United States of America.

Mr. Culverwell

Is my right hon. Friend aware that Mr. Sieff is stirring up anti-British feeling among his coreligionists in America, and that he is antagonising the Arabs by urging that they should be sent to other Arab countries in order to make room for more Jews in Palestine? Does not my right hon. Friend think that this sort of propaganda ought to stop?

Mr. Morrison

I have no evidence that Mr. Sieff desires or seeks to stir up anti-British feeling. While there are various views on the question of Palestine, I think everybody is entitled to have his opinions.

Mr. Culverwell

Has my right hon. Friend seen the report of a speech which Mr. Sieff made in New York, to which I drew his attention, urging that the Arabs should be displaced in order to make room for Jews, and ought not British subjects who are given trade permits to go to America be told to keep their mouths shut?

Mr. Morrison

It is, of course, the responsibility of everybody who has an exit permit, particularly trade permits, to be discreet in what he says, but I have not seen the report to which my hon. Friend refers, and I do not think he sent it to me —

Mr. Culverwell

I sent it to the Department.

Mr. Morrison

If we have received the report, I will take an opportunity of looking at it. I do not want to go so far as to seek to prevent a British subject travelling abroad from expressing reasonable views on matters on which there is not universal agreement.

Commander Locker-Lampson

Is not Mr. Sieff a very much honoured and liked representative and envoy, and did he not offer to fight for England at the beginning of the war?

Mr. Mander

And have there not been very good reasons in the past for criticising the British Government's attitude towards Palestine?

Commander Locker-Lampson

Why be anti-Semitic? That is what Hitler wants.