§ VISCOUNT SIMONMy Lords, on behalf of my noble friend Lord Altrincham, who has asked me to apologize for not being here as he is laid low with influenza, I beg to ask His Majesty's Government the following question of which he had given them private Notice: To ask His Majesty's Government whether it is true that all British civilians living in Palestine have been informed that they must leave the country at once or accept internment in a concentration area unless their vocations are considered essential by the Palestine Government, and that British and other journalists have been placed in the unessential categories; and further, what steps will in that event be taken to deal with anti-British propaganda and to prevent the dissemination of all hostile rumours regarding the conduct of our Forces and the action of the Palestine Government?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (VISCOUNT HALL)My Lords, as the High Commissioner for Palestine announced on February 1, British women and children and certain other British civilians are being evacuated from Palestine so that the Government and the Armed Forces may not be hampered in their task of maintaining law and order. No Government officer is being evacuated except some female teachers who will go to Trans-Jordan temporarily; and members of religious orders, missionaries, doctors and nurses are remaining. I understand that those civilians who remain will be assembled during the next few days into cantonment areas to facilitate the task of safeguarding them, since in the special circumstances in which the co-operation of the Jewish community against terrorism cannot be counted upon it is difficult to take 348 adequate measures for their protection elsewhere.
British journalists were informed of these arrangements and the reasons for them, and advised that if they chose to stay in Palestine and continued to move freely, the Government could not accept responsibility for anything that might happen to them at the hands of the terrorists. There is no question of their being compulsorily evacuated as nonessential. As regards the last part of the question, I can assure the noble Viscount that both His Majesty's Government and the Palestine authorities are fully seized of the vital importance of dealing with anti-British propaganda and preventing the dissemination of any hostile rumours that may arise regarding the conduct of our Forces and the action taken by the Palestine Government.
LORD STRABOLGIMy Lords, arising out of that answer could the noble Lord give us a little more information about the position of British business men in Palestine, a number of whom have been there for many years? Are they to be compulsorily evacuated, or are they being given the option of remaining at their own risk?
§ VISCOUNT HALLI understand that they have been advised to evacuate.
LORD STRABOLGISuppose they desire to remain, are they allowed to stay at their own risk? In other words, are they treated in the same way as journalists?
§ VISCOUNT HALLI would like to have notice of that question.