§ 15. Mr. Pickthornasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what relations he has, and intends to have after i5th May, with Zionist authorities; and what action he has taken, or intends taking in regard to British subjects and to the Irgun's declaration that non-Arabs found fighting against Jewish forces will not be accorded belligerent rights but will be executed.
§ Mr. BevinIt is provided in Article 4 of the Mandate for Palestine that an appropriate Jewish agency shall be recognised as a public body for certain specific purposes. The organisation known as the Jewish Agency for Palestine has in the past been recognised as the appropriate agency for the purposes of this Article. The Mandate, however, will come to an end on 15th May. The special status hitherto accorded to the Jewish Agency for Palestine will consequently terminate at the same time. Future relations between His Majesty's Government and Zionist authorities will depend upon the course of events in Palestine. I have not seen the declaration referred to in the second part of the Question.
§ Mr. PickthornAs to the last part of the answer, is the House to take it that that negative answer means that inquiries have been made about whether the effective Jewish authorities—the Zionist organisation or the Irgun—have made such declarations and that such inquiries have been fruitless? —
§ Mr. Pickthorn—or does the Foreign Office not know whether such declarations have been made or not? Cannot it find out?
§ Mr. BevinI have not seen the declaration to which the hon. Gentleman refers, but I will look it up and see what it contains.