§ Mr. Gallacherasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will state the number of persons deported from Palestine to the Seychelles; for what offences was their deportation ordered; was it preceded by any public trial or conviction; and how many of these deportees ae still in the Seychelles?
Mr. M. MacDonaldFive persons, of whom four had been members of the Arab Higher Committee, were deported from Palestine to the Seychelles in October, 1937, when, as a result of the organised campaign of terrorism and assassination, the Officer Administering the Government found it necessary to institute action, by virtue of powers under the Palestine (Defence) Order in Council, against certain persons whose activities had been prejudicial to the maintenance of public security in Palestine, and who were thus542W regarded as morally responsible for those events. The answer to the third part of the question is in the negative. All five of these persons are still in the Seychelles.