HC Deb 25 February 1944 vol 397 cc1117-8W
Captain Ramsay

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) whether he has any information which he can give the House concerning the recent murder of Inspector Green and Constable Ewer by Jewish terrorists in Palestine;

(2) whether he has traced the source of any of the literature or funds now at the disposal of Jewish terrorists.

Mr. Emrys-Evans

I have been asked to reply. On the night of the 14th–15th February in Haifa, British inspector R. D. Green and British constable H. E. Ewer challenged two suspicious characters carrying a parcel, who turned out to be Jews. So tar as can be ascertained, while the inspector was examining the parcel, one of the Jews shot him and the constable with a pistol. Both were wounded and fell to the ground, and the Jews ran away. One of them turned back, however, and fired at the policemen as they lay on the ground, and the Jews then made good their escape. The parcel was found to contain Stern Group pamphlets. I very much regret that both of these gallant officers died on the 16th February as a result of this dastardly attack on them while in the execution of their duty.

The Stern Group, to which the assassins apparently belonged, is a secret terrorist organisation of Jewish extremists formed in Palestine about the middle of 1940. Soon after the Group was formed, its members entered upon a campaign of organised terrorism primarily with the object of obtaining funds for the furtherance of their so-called political campaign. My right hon. and gallant Friend has no information at present of the funds at the disposal of this terrorist group.