Mr. MACLEANasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Palestine administration has suspended immigration into Palestine; whether this suspension is connected with the recent disturbances in Jaffa on 1st, 2nd, and 3rd May; whether the consequences of this suspension of immigration will be felt almost exclusively by Jewish workers, mostly refugees from Ukraine, Poland, and Lithuania, many of whom are already on their way there; whether protests have been made by the Zionist Commission and by the Jewish National Council in Palestine against the turning back of the steamer "Corniola," with emigrants, to Trieste, where these persons are now stranded; and whether, in view of these hardships and the facts, he will take steps to have the suspension of immigration removed?
Mr. WOODThe answer to the first four parts of the question is in the affirmative. With regard to the fifth part, the whole question of future immigration into Palestine has received the most careful consideration of His Majesty's Government in consultation with the High Commissioner for Palestine. Sir Herbert Samuel proposes to make a statement on the subject on the 3rd June, on the occasion of His Majesty's birthday, in which he will announce the policy of His Majesty's Government. I feel sure that the House will agree with me that it is not desirable for me to anticipate the High Commissioner's statement.