HC Deb 23 February 1948 vol 447 cc1609-13
Mr. Eden

(by Private Notice) asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will mike any statement on the incidents in Jerusalem yesterday.

The Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies (Mr. Rees-Williams)

A preliminary report received from the High Commissioner states that at 6.5 a.m. on Sunday, 22nd February, a convoy of three military type trucks and one police type armoured car were observed travel-hog towards the centre of Jerusalem. The occupants wore military and police uniforms. The three trucks parked in Ben Yehuda Street, in the Jewish commercial centre of Jerusalem. At approximately 6.25 a.m. a heavy explosion occurred which completely demolished buidings on both sides of the street. Casualty figures so far available are 27 killed, 32 seriously injured, 48 slightly injured. Shortly after the explosion had taken place, the armoured car was observed leaving Jerusalem along the Jaffa Road at great speed. This vehicle bore an identification number of which there is no trace in police records. Both military trucks and police armoured cars have been stolen in recent disturbances.

Investigations are being made into the responsibility for this incident, and I will make a further statement to the House as soon as possible. Responsibility has not yet been established, but I can say at once that the authorities have found nothing to confirm the allegation understood to have been broadcast in Palestine that members of the British security forces were involved and the Zionist authorities have been challenged to produce any evidence in support of this charge which, as the Palestine Government have said, is unbelievable.

Following the incident, feeling in Jerusalem has been very tense and eight members of the British security forces have been killed in subsequent incidents. British police have been withdrawn from outlying billets.

His Majesty's Government deplore this outrage and the loss of life involved and they deeply regret that reprisals should have been taken against members of His Majesty's forces and of the Palestine Police. I am sure that the House would wish to extend their sympathy to the relatives of those who have lost their lives, or sustained injury in these deplor able occurrences.

Mr. Eden

Can the hon. Gentleman tell us when he hopes to be able to make a further statement in respect of the allegations about British participation, as he will understand that they have already cost many British lives? Will it be possible to make a further statement tomorrow? May I add that we on this side of the House share his conviction that British personnel were in no way mixed up in this dastardly outrage?

Mr. Rees-Williams

I hope to make a further statement during the present week.

Mr. Eden

Will the hon. Gentleman consider whether he cannot make a statement tomorrow, or, at the latest, on. Wednesday, because the longer any possible doubts exist, the greater the peril to our unfortunate people out there?

Mr. Rees-Williams

As soon as the information is available, I will make it available to the House, but in any case I will make a statement during the present week.

Mr. Gammans

Will the hon. Gentleman say why the Palestine Government did not issue a denial of our alleged complicity earlier? Does he realise that, as a result of that delay, a number of British lives have been lost, which otherwise might not have been lost?

Mr. Rees-Williams

I do not agree with the last statement at all. The question of the loss of British lives has nothing whatever to do with the statement of the Palestine Government—[HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."] That is quite true.

Mr. Sydney Silverman

In view of the intensity and universality with which this charge—however unbelievable—has been accepted, and will be accepted, I am afraid, throughout the world—[HON. MEMBERS: "Why?"]—because people are only too ready to believe the worst—in view of that, will my hon. Friend undertake that, provided any prima facie evidence of any kind is furnished, there will be the fullest possible investigation to establish that there is nothing in the charge?

Mr. Rees-Williams

We do not anticipate that there will be any prima facie evidence whatever of the charge.

Lord John Hope

Will the right hon. Gentleman include in the inquiries an inquiry as to how these military vehicles came to be stolen?

Mr. Rees-Williams

That is another question altogether.

Mr. Thurtle

Will my hon. Friend say whether or not he has any confirmation of the statement made in the Press to the effect that two of the British soldiers who were murdered were murdered while in hospital undergoing treatment?

Mr. Rees-Williams

I have had no confirmation of that or any other of the details of the occurrence.

Mr. Janner

Will the Under-Secretary of State have an inquiry made into the whole of the circumstances relating to this matter, a full and open inquiry at which the parties will have an opportunity of presenting their evidence, and being present to hear what happens?

Mr. Rees-Williams

The Palestine Government are already making a full investigation into all the circumstances, and at this stage I cannot make any further promise on that particular point.

Mr. Eden

I wish to understand the hon. Gentleman aright; is it not a fact that he has already challenged those who made this charge against British soldiers to produce evidence? Could it not go out from this House of Commons that until that evidence is produced we believe our people are innocent?

Mr. Norman Smith

Will my hon. Friend say whether steps are being taken to bring to book the perpetrators of these wicked reprisals?

Mr. Rees-Williams

Yes, of course.

Mr. A. R. W. Low

What is the position of British soldiers at this time, when a certain number of Jews have openly said that they will shoot at every British troop and person they see? Have the British troops been put on a completely wartime footing; do they move on a wartime footing, and are they subject to any limitation, not only when hostile action is taken against them, but when there is a suspicion that it will be taken against them?

Mr. Rees-Williams

Questions relating to troops should be put to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War.

Mr. S. Silverman

While it is true, and we all agree, that everybody will be most reluctant to believe in the truth of any such charges as have been made, in the absence of evidence will my hon. Friend bear in mind that my question to him was whether, if evidence is produced—and only if evidence is produced—he will institute the most full and searching inquiry to see whether the evidence amounts to anything or not? May I have an answer to that as it is a most important matter?

Sir T. Moore

Do not the Government think that this is a further justification for the earlier withdrawal of our troops from Palestine, in order to save any further deplorable situations of this kind arising?

Dr. Haden Guest

Cannot my hon. Friend promise to make a statement to the House not later than Wednesday? The urgency is very great indeed; and I hope a reply will be made that none of us believes in this abominable lie.

Mr. Rees-Williams

I am hoping to give the House a further statement tomorrow. I cannot be committed to give it tomorrow, because the information has to come from Palestine, but that is my hope.

Mr. Warbey

Can the hon. Gentleman say whether the information received indicates exactly what types of uniform were worn by the men in these lorries, and whether they were of a British type? If so, what action was taken by the Palestine authorities in the 20 minutes between the time when they were observed proceeding down the road to the time when the explosion took place to check up on their movement and to see what action could be taken to stop what was obviously an illicit operation?

Squadron-Leader Fleming

Reverting to what the Under-Secretary of State said about a commission of inquiry being set up, is there anything to prevent the spokesmen of the Zionist organisation in Palestine coming forward and giving their evidence, if any?

Mr. Rees-Williams

There is at this stage no question of an inquiry. Certain allegations have been made which we do not believe. We have told the people who made them, "Come and give your evidence," and it is up to them to produce their evidence. If they produce evidence against British troops—and we do not believe that they can do so—we shall then consider the position. At this stage it is entirely premature either to discuss these details, or to discuss what might happen in a hypothetical set of circumstances.