§ 40. Mr. Niall Macphersonasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will take steps to ensure that until Great Britain lays down the Mandate for Palestine, no military arms or equipment will be imported into Palestine except for the use of the mandatory Power and its agents.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies (Mr. Rees - Williams)The authority of the Palestine Government is required for the legal importation of arms, ammunition and military equipment, and no such authority is being granted to non-Governmental bodies. All the resources of the Palestine Government are being used and will continue for the remaining period of the Mandate to be used, to prevent clandestine importation of arms, ammunition and military equipment, whether by land or sea, and whether by Jews or Arabs.
§ Mr. MacphersonIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that this clear declaration of policy will help very much towards the safety of our own troops, both now and after the Mandate is surrendered?