3. Mr. Creech Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been drawn to Axis propaganda to the Arabs which is directed from Athens by Syrian, Iraqi, Palestinian and other Axis agents, and why a group of the Mufti's followers, including leading members of the Mufti's family clan, and Musa el Alani who acted as legal adviser and chief of the anti-British propaganda service in Baghdad, all of whom took an active part in the Mufti's intrigues in Baghdad and who fled with him to Iran, have been allowed to return to Palestine?
§ Mr. EdenThe answer to the first part of the Question is: "Yes, Sir." As regards the second part, about half of the male Palestinian refugees in Persia who were surrendered to us by the Persian authorities have been sent to Southern Rhodesia for internment. These include three members of the Husseini family. The other males, and all the women and children, were allowed to return to Palestine. These arrangements were made in conjunction with the Government of Palestine.
Mr. Creech JonesIs it regarded as either wise or desirable that these men, whose records are well known, should be permitted to return to Palestine again to make their contacts and take the political stage and renew their intrigues at the expense of the Government?
§ Mr. EdenI understand that those who were regarded as more dangerous were sent to Southern Rhodesia. If the hon. Member wants to know why the others were permitted to return to Palestine, that is a matter for the Colonial Office and not for me.