HC Deb 01 March 1948 vol 448 cc33-7
Mr. Eden

(by Private Notice) asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has any statement to make on the mining of the Cairo—Haifa train yesterday.

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

I have been asked to reply.

It is with the deepest possible regret that His Majesty's Government announce that at approximately 8.40 in the morning of 29th February the passenger train from Kantara to Haifa was blown up by unknown persons a short distance north of Rehovoth railway station. The train consisted of 13 coaches, five of which were military, and the last three coaches which contained military personnel only were completely wrecked. The following casualties, all British Service personnel, were caused by the explosion: dead 27; dangerously wounded, six; seriously wounded, nine; slightly wounded, 20. The casualties were cleared by 10.30 a.m. and were admitted to the British Military Hospital at Beer Yaacov.

On investigation it was found that four charges had been laid under sleepers approximately 10 yards apart. Three of these had been detonated and the fourth, which failed to explode, was found to contain 100 lbs. of ammonal in sandbags. All four charges were wired to an ignition point in an orange grove 300 yards from the track. No assistance was given to military personnel who were carrying out investigations, by persons in the locality. There is as yet no information available as to the identity of persons responsible for this outrage, except a report that the Stern Gang have claimed responsibility.

I wish, on behalf of His Majesty's Government and the Government of Palestine, to express deep sympathy with the relatives of those who lost their lives as a result of this shocking outrage.

A statement has been issued by the Government of Palestine in Jerusalem today recalling the catalogue of enormities perpetrated by Jewish terrorists in recent months, and drawing attention to the failure. of the Jewish community to assist in bringing the guilty to justice and, in particular, the refusal to give evidence in the official police inquiries into the Ben Yehuda Street explosion.

The statement declares: The leaders of the Jewish community have felt themselves unable, for political reasons, to take any steps to bring to justice the persons responsible for these crimes and have thus facilitated the spread of lawlessness and disorder to a point at which the community itself is threatened with destruction by elements within itself. In this neglect of its responsibilities the Jewish Agency has attempted to excuse itself by resort to calculated innuendoes, falsehoods and propaganda directed against British members of the Security Forces who are, in fact, every day protecting Jewish property and saving hundreds of civilian lives, even at the risk of their own. Referring to the Ben Yehuda Street outrage the statement points out that in spite of official denials the Jewish Agency has repeated that it was a British Army convoy that was responsible"— and continues nobody outside Jewish circles believes this, and there can be no other purpose in repeating it than to stir up racial hatred. The fact is that the vehicles responsible for this outrage were no more a British Army convoy than the vehicles stolen from time to time by Jews and used by them on numerous occasions for the murder of many more people than were killed in Ben Yehuda Street. The statement concludes: The Government, mindful of the duty of the Security Forces to maintain law and order, and confronted with the deliberate policy of the Jewish Agency to render their task as difficult as possible, desires now to bring once more to the serious attention of the Jewish community in Palestine the fact that the continuance of indiscriminate murder and condoned terrorism can lead only to the forfeiture by the community of all right in the eyes of the world to be numbered among civilised peoples.

Mr. Eden

I am sure the whole house will endorse what the hon. Gentleman said at the end of his statement. Does he recall that some little time ago I asked him whether the authorities on the spot had taken every step to put the Armed Forces on a war footing, because it is clear that we are dealing with a completely ruthless enemy? May I ask him whether be is satisfied that that is now being done? For instance, were all the military precautions which would have been taken if the Armed Forces were on a war footing, taken in this case? It seems to us that some further precautions will have to be taken, especially about the movement of any considerable number of troops by rail.

Mr. Rees-Williams

All necessary precautions have been taken, but the right hon. Gentleman will understand that the protection of a railway line is a very difficult operation. The military authorities in Palestine have full power to take whatever measures they deem necessary to protect the lives of the British troops in Palestine.

Mr. Wilson Harris

Can the Minister throw any light on the origin of this explosive? Is it of a type which could be obtained by looting in Palestine itself?

Mr. Rees-Williams

Yes, Sir.

Air-Commodore Harvey

If these men were returning from leave, why were they not flown direct from Egypt to Palestine to avoid the necessity of going by rail?

Mr. Rees-Williams

I could not answer that question without notice.

Mr. Thomas Reid

Is not the saving of the lives of our troops in Palestine more important than winning or losing the next election in America?

Squadron-Leader Fleming

Is it not a fact that in spite of these repeated outrages, martial law has not yet been declared in Palestine?

Mr. Rees-Williams

It is a technical point as to whether martial law would give any more protection, but if the military authorities in Palestine desired to impose martial law, His Majesty's Government would acquiesce.

Mr. Eden

This is a matter of far-reaching importance, and there have been many questions. The position is far from clear. May I ask the hon. Gentleman, and, perhaps, the Prime Minister, too, if they would look into this matter and assure us that if martial law would assist the protection of the lives of our troops, then martial law will at once be declared?

Mr. Rees-Williams

We have looked into this matter, and the military authorities themselves have not up to now desired to have martial law imposed. It was their decision. The Colonial Office suggested the imposition of martial law, and they did not want it.

Mr. Thurtle

In view of the fact that this outrage appears to have had its origin in the outrage in Jerusalem, can my hon. Friend say whether his attention has been drawn to an article in the "Jewish Standard" of last Saturday, which contained all sorts of innuendoes against the British troops, and will he take early steps to repudiate the suggestions in that article?

Mr. Rees-Williams

I have not read the article, but it is now quite clear that British troops were in no way responsible for these incidents, and it is a blatant lie to say that they were.

Mr. Eden

I agree, but the hon. Gentleman will recollect that in previous questions references were made to statements containing these innuendoes against the British troops, and I think the hon. Gentleman undertook to consult the Attorney-General in the matter. May we know the result of that consultation?

Mr. Rees-Williams

The matter is still under consideration. We have not yet had any reply.

Vice-Admiral Taylor

Is it not a fact that the military authorities have not imposed martial law in Palestine because they have not sufficient troops to carry it out?

Sir Ralph Glyn

Has not the High Commissioner powers under special ordinance to put into force regulations equivalent to martial law?

Mr. Rees-Williams

Yes, he has, and that is why up to now the military authorities have not decided to impose martial law.

Captain Marsden

Have the military authorities powers within the Commander-in-Chief's own authority to impose martial law, or do they have to get their authority from the High Commissioner or from the Secretary of State?

Mr. Rees-Williams

At the present moment the authority rests with the High Commissioner. If martial law were imposed, the authority would derive from the Commander-in-Chief, but that position has not been desired by the military authorities in Palestine. If the Commander-in-Chief desired to impose martial law we should agree to it, but he has not yet desired it.

Captain Marsden

Has not the High Commissioner expressed any views one way or the other, on the subject?

Mr. Rees-Williams

Yes, he has. He has, so far, acquiesced in the views of the military authority.

Sir Arthur Salter

In view of the Minister's statement as to the attitude of the Jewish Agency, will he say what steps are being taken in regard to that Agency?

Mr. Rees-Williams

That is a matter now under consideration.

Mr. Tolley

Can my hon. Friend say whether a request has yet been received from the Commander in Palestine asking for additional troops to be sent out there to meet the difficult position?

Mr. Rees-Williams

No such request has been received.

Sir W. Darling

Has the possibility been considered of placing on all trains, on which British troops are travelling, representatives of the local authority, whether Jews or Arabs? In similar circumstances, some years ago, that practice was followed with great advantage.

Mr. Rees-Williams

No.

Mr. Keenan

Could not the Government try to clarify the position so that martial law will be brought nearer than apparently it is?