HC Deb 15 December 1942 vol 385 cc1752-5
18. Mr. Hannah

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in consideration of renewed anti-Semitic movements on the Continent and new American interest in the scheme for a Jewish army, he will take steps for an interdepartmental committee to meet an American delegation to discuss this subject?

Sir J. Grigg

The formation of a specifically Jewish army has been carefully examined by the Government on various occasions in the light of all the relevant factors involved, and it is not considered that any departure from the present policy is justified. My hon. Friend will remember that this policy was stated by me in the House on 6th August.

Mr. Hannah

When will the Secretary of State for War be in a position to make the promised statement about the enrolment of a Palestinian Regiment?

Sir J. Grigg

I had some discussions some time ago with the Commander-in-Chief, Middle East, and I will circulate a statement of the result of this discussion in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Commander Locker-Lampson

Has not the time come to make a generous gesture in regard to Jewry in this respect?

Sir J. Grigg

I was under the impression that the policy already announced was a generous gesture.

Mr. Cocks

If the Jews are to be murdered in this wholesale way, have they not the right to form an army to prevent their fellows from being murdered?

Following is the statement:

His Majesty's Government are aware of the anxiety of Jewish communities throughout the world to be assured that their kinsmen in Palestine are afforded every possible opportunity to take arms actively against their avowed enemies, the Axis Powers, and to defend their homes in Palestine against the aggressions of these Powers.

As has previously been made clear in this House, Jews and Arabs in Palestine have ample opportunity of joining the British Army for service outside Palestine. If: was with the object of affording both races the opportunity of serving specifically in the defence of their Palestinian homes, that I announced on 6th August His Majesty's Government's decision to proceed with the formation of the Palestine Regiment of the British Army, for employment in Palestine or adjacent countries for the defence of Palestine.

The defence of Palestine is an integral part of Middle East strategy and cannot be considered apart from it. The duties allotted to the Regiment must, therefore, be related to the Middle East military dispositions as a whole; its task must be that which at any given moment will contribute most to the defeat of the Axis Powers in that theatre. The Commander-in-Chief, Middle East, is in the best position to judge, from a military point of view, what this task should be. The immediate role which he has allotted to the Regiment is the defence against sabotage and raids on vulnerable points, airfields, radio telegraphy stations, etc., in Palestine, vital to our war effort.

This task is one of great responsibility. By undertaking it, the Regiment releases fully trained and seasoned troops urgently needed for battle, who would otherwise be required to undertake these duties, while the scale of duties involved is increasing with the arrival of further trained reinforcements and the consequent enlargement of base installations. The Regiment is therefore fulfilling an indispensable task and the Commander-in-Chief has complete confidence in its ability to carry it out. The scale of arms and equipment required for this role is not so great as that of the units fighting actively in the front line, and it would, therefore, be manifestly uneconomical to equip the Regiment on a heavier scale so long as they have this role. In matters of this sort involving the best disposition of troops, the Commander-in-Chief's judgment and decision naturally receive due weight from His Majesty's Government.

I would stress that this is the immediate role of the Regiment. Present military circumstances dictate that it cannot be other. But it does not follow that, as the situation develops, the role will not be different. The Commander-in-Chief intends to relieve units of the Palestine Regiment of their general duties, when equipment and circumstances permit, for training in field duties. His Majesty's Government fully approve this intention, and it is hoped that the Palestine Regiment will in its turn be enabled by these measures to take a more active part in operations in the Middle East, should the situation require it.