§ 2.38 p.m.
§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYMy Lords, I beg to ask His Majesty's Government a question of which I have given them private Notice—namely, whether they have any statement to make with regard to the situation in Palestine, with special regard to the security of British personnel serving in that country.
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (VISCOUNT HALL)My Lords, although the Palestine question is under reference to the United Nations—and the United Nations Special Committee have indeed only just completed their investigations in the territory—terrorism has continued unabated. Two British sergeants were kidnapped in Nathanya on July 12. The area was immediately put 933 under full military control, and the most intensive searches were carried out by troops and police. These were, however, unsuccessful, and there was no further news of the missing men until on July 31 (following the execution of three Jews sentenced after trial) their dead bodies were found hanging from trees with notices pinned on to them indicating that they had been murdered by the Irgun. This savage crime has greatly increased the prevailing tension in Palestine. On the evening of the day when the sergeants' bodies were found there were several anti-Jewish attacks in Tel Aviv, resulting in the loss of five lives. An immediate inquiry has been ordered into these incidents, in which policemen are alleged to have been involved. In general, in face of the murder of their. comrades, the conduct of troops and police has been exemplary.
The situation has been the subject of the closest consultation between the High Commissioner and the military authorities, and also between the High Commissioner and my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for the Colonies, and the appropriate measures to he taken have been most thoroughly discussed. The Secretary of State has been informed by the High Commissioner that the Commander-in-Chief and the General Officer Commanding have asked for no measures to Which he has not agreed. Suggestions that the civil and military authorities are not at one in their approach to, and in their proposals for dealing with, the situation are entirely without foundation. Although there has been grievous loss of life, the relentless and continuous action of the security forces has been more effective than may be appreciated. For example, during July the following successful preventive measures were undertaken by the military in co-operation with, and in addition to, those undertaken by the police: Thirty-seven mines were detected and rendered harmless; twenty-two searches, apart from those in the Nathanya controlled area, were carried out in Jewish settlements; six major caches were discovered containing arms and ammunition, including a factory for the manufacture of Sten guns.
As regards the position of British personnel, civil and military, it is evident that in existing conditions security and, in particular, protection against kidnapping 934 cannot be complete, but all reasonable precautions have been taken. For example, women and children have been evacuated and security zones have been established for residential and office areas. Travel on roads is confines. to essential duty or to journeys in convoys. These are not conditions tolerable in time of peace in any civilized country. The High Commissioner is assured of the fullest support from His Majesty's Government in dealing with this situation, and I would take this opportunity to express the profound sympathy we all feel for the British staff of the Palestine administration and the military and police forces in their arduous and distasteful duties, and our admiration for their steadfastness in circumstances of such difficulty and danger.
As regards additional measures decided upon in view of the latest developments, steps already taken include the extension and application of the regulation permitting the demolition of buildings from which firearms have been discharged or bombs thrown. The arrest has been effected this morning of a large number of known supporters of the Irgun and of persons believed to be in contact with the terrorists. Action has also been taken to close down the Revisionist youth movement which is known to have provided many recruits for the terrorist organizations.
§ 2.44 p.m.
§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYMy Lords, I should like to thank the First Lord for the very full answer which he has given. A private notice question is not the occasion for a debate, or even for a lengthy speech, but there are some things which I think should be said, and I hope the House will forgive me if I trespass for rather longer than is usual upon their time. The Government will. lam sure, realize the very deep feeling of indignation, both in this House and outside, which has been aroused by the cold-blooded murder of brave and honourable soldiers who were serving their country in the fulfilment of international obligations undertaken by us. No event, I think, has done more severe injury both in this country and, I believe, throughout the civilized world, to the cause of Jewry, who themselves have suffered so dreadfully during recent years. We in this country for many centuries have been the best friends of the Jews; they 935 have been better treated here, I believe, than in any other country, including the United States of America. It was due to the initiative of the Balfour Declaration that the Zionist experiment was ever started, and it was due to our protection that it passed successfully through its earlier years.
During the war years, as I know from my own personal experience at the Colonial Office, we took in a great number of Jews from Europe, although our own population at that time was short of food. It might have been hoped that there would be recognition of this fact, as I believe there is from the vast majority of the Jewish community, and that there would have been understanding and co-operation for a solution of what is admittedly a most difficult problem. But it is clear that among a small extreme section of the Jews in Palestine—and I am afraid in certain areas outside Palestine—we are being treated to-day as the supreme enemy of the Jews. This extreme section boasts that they have declared war upon Britain. But they should remember that they are only enabled to conduct that war because of our own patience and tolerance in administering the law of the land. Had the Mandate for Palestine been entrusted to Germany, or to other countries which we might mention, the penalties which would have been imposed would have been of so severe a character that the whole population would have suffered unimaginable misery. Those countries would have replied to terror with terror. That is not our way, and I hope it never will be. But they must not try even us too high. Your Lordships' House will wish me to join the noble Viscount the First Lord of the Admiralty in paying a heartfelt tribute to the exemplary and indeed extreme patience and restraint shown by the troops and police over a long period of strain, including almost daily murders of their comrades. I do not think there can have been any finer chapter in the history of the British Armed Forces.
As the First Lord has said, the United Nations Committee who are at present examining this problem will no doubt, in due course, make recommendations. In the meantime I would submit, both to your Lordships and to anyone else who 936 may be concerned and whom my words may reach, that it is incumbent both on His Majesty's Government and on the Committees themselves—and especially I would mention the Jewish leaders in Palestine, Haganah—to put down disorder by every means in their power. The noble Viscount, Lord Hall, mentioned "reasonable precautions". I should have preferred him to say "every possible precaution" would be taken to see that this is done. If His Majesty's Government are willing, as I am sure they are, to take every action that it is possible for them to take, they may be certain, I believe, that they will receive the most united support of all sections of opinion both in your Lordships' House and throughout the country.
THE EARL OF PERTHMy Lords, we on these Benches have denounced with great vigour previous crimes and terrorism in Palestine. We shall continue to denounce them. The noble Viscount, Lord Samuel, a previous and most distinguished High Commissioner for Palestine, expressed utter detestation of what is happening, and I do not think that I can acid anything to what he has said. I should, however, like to pay the same tribute as the noble Marquess the Leader of the Opposition paid to the control and self-restraint shown by the British Forces in Palestine. They are in the best traditions of the British Army. I should not like on this occasion not to say one word condemning very strongly the anti-Jewish outbreaks that have taken place in this country, particularly in Liverpool and Manchester. It is not the custom here for innocent victims to be made to pay for crimes abroad, crimes which no doubt they detest as strongly as we do. I feel that these outbreaks are contrary to the whole traditions of the country, and above all to the tenets of Christianity.
§ VISCOUNT HALLMy Lords, I can but express my gratitude and that of His Majesty's Government to the noble Marquess, Lord Salisbury, and the noble Earl, Lord Perth, for their expressions on this question this afternoon. I want to assure the noble Marquess that there is no disagreement at all between the military authorities and the civil administration as to the powers which are necessary, and indeed as to the action to be taken, to root out terrorism in Palestine. May I also add that I share the view expressed by Lord 937 Perth with regard to action against Jews in this country? It is not the British way of dealing with these problems.