HC Deb 04 February 1948 vol 446 cc1791-3
17. Mr. Janner

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what action has been taken by Palestine authorities against the armed Arabs who have entered Palestine from Transjordan.

Mr. Creech Jones

The party of armed Arabs to which my hon. Friend refers dispersed on its arrival in Palestine before action could be taken by the security authorities. The route by which they are reported to have entered the country has now been closed.

Mr. Janner

Is my right hon. Friend aware that we are spending some £2 million a year in equipping Forces in Transjordan at present, and that many more than the one party of armed men have come into Palestine; that this is a complete transgression against the United Nations Charter; and will something effective be done to stop these people from coming into Palestine?

Mr. Creech Jones

It will be appreciated that the security Forces in Palestine have a frightfully difficult job, and it is exceedingly difficult to maintain a watch over the complete frontiers.

Squadron-Leader Fleming

Has the Colonial Secretary any information as to whether these armed bands coming in from Transjordan are Regulars or guerrilla forces?

Mr. Creech Jones

I have no exact information, but one gathers they are of the guerrilla kind.

Mr. Austin

Is my right hon. Friend satisfied in fact that the arms in question are not those supplied to neighbouring States under treaty obligations? If that is so and these arms are being misused in this way, will he see that there is no further evasion?

Mr. Creech Jones

That is quite a different issue.

Mr. Emrys Hughes

Is the Colonial Secretary aware that on 28th January Arab forces captured 500 cases of Scotch whisky in a train hold-up, that the whisky was subsequently sold in the village of Khan Younis at 2s. a bottle? Is the Minister also aware that last year Scottish Christians exported 12,000 gallons of whisky to Palestine, and would not the security Forces have a much easier task if these exports were stopped until hostilities are over?

Mr. Speaker

The hon. Member seems to be giving a lot of information, not asking a question.

Mr. Janner

Reverting to the original question, will my right hon. Friend see to it that no further moneys or arms are sent to Transjordan or any other country to equip forces to come in and attack British Forces and Jews in Palestine?

Mr. Eden

Could we have an answer on that point, because we would like to know whether our Treaty obligations stand? I hope that the right hon. Gentleman will make it plain that our Treaty obligations will be carried out.

Mr. Creech Jones

That question has already been answered in the House. Our Treaty obligations do stand.