HC Deb 12 March 1947 vol 434 cc1301-3
17. Mr. Dodds-Parker

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many Jewish terrorists have been brought to trial in Palestine in 1946 and 1947; how many have been convicted; and what action has been taken on the sentences of those convicted.

Mr. Creech Jones

I am not yet in a position to give the hon. Member a full answer. I will inform him of the details as soon as they are received from Palestine. During 1946, however, 83 Jews were convicted by military courts, nearly all on charges of carrying or discharging firearms.

Mr. Dodds-Parker

Can the Secretary of State give any indication how far these sentences have been in any way reduced and in what proportion?

Mr. Creech Jones

I think in some cases the sentences of death have been reduced to sentences of life imprisonment.

Mr. Dodds-Parker

May I ask the Secretary of State whether, in view of the similar figures for the Arabs for the period 1936–38, he is quite satisfied with the proportion?

Mr. Creech Jones

Again I must point out that the administration of justice in Palestine is not my affair.

Sir G. Jeffreys

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that many British soldiers and policemen in Palestine have been killed as a result of terrorists, that the world over the sentence for murder is death, and will he see that that is carried out in every case?

43. Mr. Stokes

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is yet in a position to state the names of the members of the Jewish Agency referred to in code in telegram No. 2, page 4 of Cmd. 6873, relating to acts of violence in Palestine.

Mr. Creech Jones

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply of 4th December last, to which I have nothing to add.

Mr. Stokes

But as that answer was entirely unsatisfactory, may I ask my right hon. Friend whether, in view of the fact that four of the names have already been revealed, including prominent members of the Jewish Agency, among them Dr. Weitzman, he will now take steps to close the Jewish Agency, as that needs to be done?

Mr. Creech Jones

I regret that my reply must continue to be unsatisfactory.

Mr. Sydney Silverman

In the event of my right hon. Friend having evidence to connect any of these gentlemen with any act of violence, will he undertake to make a proper charge, in a proper court, so that the evidence may he examined and, if possible, rebutted?

Mr. Stokes

Is it not perfectly clear, from the White Paper referred to in the Question, that all these gentlemen were directly implicated in the outrages which have been perpetrated?

Mr. Silverman

May I join with my hon Friend in pressing the Minister to give us a specific answer to that question? Is it not perfectly clear that there is no ground whatever for any such accusation? If there were any ground for that accusation, is it not consistent with our traditions that a charge should be made specifically, in a proper place, and that the accused persons should be enabled to reply?

Mr. Creech Jones

That is another question, and I would like to see it on the Order Paper before I answer it.