HC Deb 03 March 1947 vol 434 cc33-7
Mr. Churchill

(by Private Notice) asked the Prime Minister whether he has any statement to make on the latest outrage in Palestine.

The Secretary of State for the Colonies (Mr. Creech Jones)

I have been asked to reply. At half-past three on the afternoon of 1st March a vehicle drove into the wire defences of the Goldsmith Officers' Club in Jerusalem, while the guards were engaged by machine-gun fire from terrorists who had taken up position outside the wire defences. A heavy explosion followed which destroyed a considerable part of the building. A few hours later an attack was carried out on a car park at Haifa and a number of vehicles wrecked. Other less serious outrages, of which full reports are not yet available, occurred in other parts of the country. Total casualties so far reported in this day of violence amount to 18 killed and 25 injured, of whom a number are civilians. In the last month 48 outrages have occurred in which 20 people have lost their lives and 31 have been injured.

Following on the events of 1st. March the High Commissioner decided to place certain Jewish areas, from which it is well known most operations of the extreme terrorist groups are conducted, under statutory martial law. The effect of this decision is to withdraw normal facilities for civil government, including civil courts of law, from the areas concerned and involves the closing of banks, control of entry into and departure from specified areas of persons and vehicles by order of a Military Commander, and the trial of all criminal offenders in specified areas by Military Courts. Localities so far affected are a restricted Jewish area of Jerusalem and an area including Tel Aviv, Ramat Gan, Benei Beraq and Petah Tikvah. His Majesty's Government have approved this action and the authorities in Palestine will receive the full support of the Government in any further action which may prove necessary. I am sure that they will carry the full support of this House.

I must again condemn these murderous outrages in Palestine. I need only add that they can in no way help towards a solution of the problems in that country, especially at a time when His Majesty's Government have announced their intention to refer the whole question to the United Nations. The House will deplore the decision of the Jewish community not to respond more whole-heartedly to the recent invitation of the High Commissioner to co-operate against the terrorists. I desire also to express the profound sympathy of His Majesty's Government and that of the House with those who have been bereaved in these recent tragic incidents. All possible steps are being taken to bring the criminals to justice.

Mr. Churchill

Why is it that the measures now proposed to be taken are likely to be more effective than other measures which have been taken at various times in the last 12 months following on similar outrages?

Mr. Creech Jones

What is happening now is the declaration of statutory martial law by which not only are whole areas cordoned off and most intensive searches carried out by the military but for the moment civil law is suspended.

Mr. Sydney Silverman

Can my right hon. Friend confirm the reported statement of General Gale this morning that he is receiving considerable assistance from the Jewish community in this matter; and can he say whether the hands of those who wish to assist in the preservation of order in Palestine might not be strengthened by a more generous immigration policy in the interval between now and a final settlement by the United Nations?

Mr. Creech Jones

I gave an undertaking in the Debate last week that all the suggestions which were made during that discussion would receive the very close study of His Majesty's Government. That study is still proceeding. With regard to the first part of the supplementary question, it is quite true that during the last month or so the Jewish community have taken certain active steps for the purpose of reducing terrorism, but unfortunately they were not able to respond wholeheartedly to the request which the High Commissioner made.

Mr. Churchill

How long does the Secretary of State for the Colonies expect that this state of squalid warfare with all its bloodshed will go on, at a cost of £30 million or £40 million a year, keeping 100,000 Englishmen away with the military forces? How long does he expect that this will go on before some decision is reached?

Mr. Creech Jones

The Government are fully alive to the very serious state of affairs in Palestine and every step will be taken to bring so tragic a situation to an end as rapidly as possible. But immediate action is under the control of the military commander in consultation with the High Commissioner, and I do not feel it need be thought that we are not mindful of the desperate urgency of finding some way through the very difficult problem which confronts us there.

Mr. Churchill

How long is this to go on? Is there no means of accelerating the appeal to the United Nations organisa- tion, or are we just to drift on month after month, with these horrible outrages and counter-measures which are most necessary but none the less objectionable—necessary but painful? Can nothing be done to accelerate the appeal to the United Nations organisation?

Mr. Creech Jones

The reply to that question is that the Government are not drifting in this matter. [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."] Already appropriate steps are being taken to see whether this matter can be expedited, so far as the United Nations procedure is concerned.

Mr. Pickthorn

In view of what the right hon. Gentleman said in his original statement about the decision of the Jewish community and what he said later about their not being able to respond wholeheartedly, can His Majesty's Government not now promise to the House, by way of White Paper or otherwise, all the information and evidence in their possession of the relations between the Stern Gang, Irgun Zvai Leumi, the Haganah, and the Jewish Agency? Can we not have all the information now?

Hon. Members

Answer.

Mr. Creech Jones

If the Opposition had shown elementary good manners and had not shouted, they would have heard that I did reply to the question—

Mr. Pickthorn

The right hon. Gentleman did not get up.

Mr. Creech Jones

—and I replied to it in the negative.

Mr. Cocks

Will the Minister, in this very grave situation, consider also the history of the parallel situation in Ireland, 27 years ago?

Mr. Creech Jones

We have that parallel very much in our minds.

Mr. Martin Lindsay

How many of the men found guilty of and sentenced to death for these terrorist activities have been executed?

Mr. Creech Jones

The hon. Member is referring to the Jews?

Mr. Lindsay

I said "terrorists"

Mr. Creech Jones

In regard to the Jewish terrorists, I think the answer is "None."

Mr. Janner

May I ask my right hon. Friend whether he will take note of their feelings of horror and condemnation of terrorism which has been expressed by the Jewish Agency? Would he please also reconsider his decision in respect of a larger immigration, which would strengthen their arm to do something?

Brigadier Mackeson

Is not the Colonial Secretary ashamed of the disgraceful conduct of himself and the Government, which has placed British troops—[Interruption.]

Mr. Godfrey Nicholson

I would like to ask the right hon. Gentleman a question about the notification of casualties. Would he see that next of kin never learn their bad news from the Press or the wireless?

Mr. Creech Jones

Obviously, when outrages occur, we are under an obligation that some publicity be given to them, but it is our hope—this is really a War Office matter—that the relatives of those who are killed shall be notified as quickly as possible.

Mr. Nicholson

Will the Colonial Secretary try to make quite sure that this is not just a pious hope?

Mr. Churchill

When does the Minister expect to be in a position to announce that the United Nations will be able to give prompt attention to this urgent matter? When?

Mr. Creech Jones

I cannot give an answer to that question at this moment. All I can assure the right hon. Gentleman is that we are prosecuting our inquiries actively in New York with all possible speed, and we hope that it may be possible, probably within a week, to be able to make some announcement as to what progress is being made in those inquiries.

Mr. Churchill

If I ask a Question in about a week—

Mr. Creech Jones

I will do my best to answer it.

Mr. Churchill

—or perhaps even the Prime Minister might do his best to answer it.