HL Deb 12 July 1922 vol 51 cc404-6

LORO SYDENHAM rose to ask his Majesty's Government—

  1. 1. Whether Mr. Abramson has been or is s to be appointed Governor of Southern Palestine;
  2. 2. Whether he, is an Austrian Jew of the name of Mahler, who was naturalised about fourteen years ago;
  3. 3. Whether he proved a failure in Tran-Jordania, and was withdrawn; and
  4. 4. Whether British officers have been dismissed in order to make this appointment possible.

The noble Lord said: My Lords, I understand that Mr. Abramson was brought UJJ as a boy by one of the Christian Missions, and therefore he is by faith a Christian. Before the war he was a clerk in Messrs. Cook's office, and his knowledge of Arabic was so good that he made himself extremely useful in connection with the Labour battalions which were raised. He then entered the Palestine public service, and was appointed political adviser to the Emir Abdullah. That was naturally a rather unfortunate selection, and he had to be replaced by a British officer in a comparatively short time. That was no reproach to Mr. Abramson, who found himself in an impossible position through no fault of his own. He is now, I believe, Assistant Civil Secretary to the Zionist Government in Palestine. That seems to me to be a distinctly meritorious record, and I have nothing to say against Mr. Abramson.

I raise this Question only because I consider that the Governorship of Southern Palestine, at a critical time, should, be held by a British officer, or a competent Arab if one can be found. It seems to me that it is not desirable that a member of the Jewish nation, now officially recognised as such by His Majesty's Government, should be appointed to the Governorship of this important province. The High Commissioner lately dismissed ten British officers, some of great experience and trusted by the people. No Jewish official has been dismissed at the same time, and therefore pro tanto Zionist influence in the Government of Palestine must have been increased. I hope, therefore, that the answer to my first Question, which the noble Duke will give, will be in the negative.

THE DUKE OP SUTHERLAND

My Lords, Mr. Abramson is a permanent member of the Palestine Civil Service. I understand that he was born in Palestine of Rumanian parents but became a British subject in 1909. He was for many years before the war in the employment of a British firm. He is and always has been a Christian. His family name is, and, I understand, always was, Abramson. He served as a commissioned officer in the Intelligence Branch of Lord Allenby's General Staff, in which position his local knowledge of the country and its peoples were of particular value. Later, he was appointed Military Governor of Hebron under the Military Administration of Palestine, where he displayed great aptitude for administration, gaining the respect of all sections of the population of Palestine and the favourable reports of the chief 1 administrators under whom he served.

When a Civil Administration was set up I under Sir Herbert Samuel, Mr. Abramson, on the strength of the reports of the Military Administration, was offered permanent employment under the Palestine j Government. His first duty was, with the help of Palestinian colleagues, to examine and inquire into conditions respecting land holdings in Palestine, with special reference to the extent and size of State lands. Mr. Abramson and his colleagues prepared a most valuable and interesting Report, which is now under the consideration of the Palestine Government and the Secretary of State. While retaining his substantive appointment in Palestine, he was temporarily employed as chief British representative in Trans-Jordania, where be laid the foundations of the administrative arrangements that are now working so satisfactorily in that country.

There is no foundation for the allegation: that Mr. Abramson was a failure in Trans-Jordania. I should like to say that insinuations of this land are calculated to cause great bitterness to officers who are loyally and unselfishly endeavouring to carry out the policy of His Majesty's Government in countries where the conditions are often difficult and discouraging. Mr. Abramson has recently been acting as Chief Secretary while the High Commissioner has been on leave, and will take up the post of District Governor of the Southern District at an early date, if he has not already done so.

Mr. Abramson is receiving his new appointment purely on his merits. The need for economy has rendered it necessary to; reconstruct the Palestine administration and to reduce the number of administrative districts. As a consequence the services of a few British officers have had to be dispensed with. Mr. Abramson is one I of those whom it has been decided to retain. I In the opinion of the Palestine Government he will find in the Southern District suitable opportunity to display those administrative talents of which he has already given I ample proof, and. I am sure that I am voicing your Lordships' own feelings when I express the sincere; hope that his task in his new post will not be made more difficult by the incorrect and unfair statements regarding his antecedents which have recently been given currency in this country.