§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can make any statement regarding the internal situation in Palestine and trans-Jordania, respectively; whether the High Commissioner of Palestine eon-templates the floating of a Government loan for Palestine for expenditure upon railways and other public works; if so, whether such loan will receive any guarantee from the British Treasury similar to that accorded to the Soudan last year; whether an immigration ordinance has been promulgated by the High Commissioner of Palestine; and whether any further steps have yet been taken in Palestine to develop the local resources of the country?
Mr. HARMSWORTHAll our recent reports from Palestine show that the good reception accorded to Sir H. Samuel on his arrival in Palestine at the end of June has been followed by a period of tranquillity and freedom from internal disturbances or external raids. The relations between the different sections of the population seemed to have much improved and the people to have been settling down, while awaiting the developments promised by Sir H. Samuel in his inaugural address. The censorship has been abolished. The administrative establishment is being gradually completed. The districts have boon reorganised with a resultant economy of the British staff employed there and a larger employment of Palestinian officers and an Advisory Council has been created composed of ten officials, four Moslems, three Christians and three Jews.
The Administration are considering the preparation of a scheme of educational development, and Sir H. Samuel has also appointed commissions of inquiry presided over by an officer of the administration and representative of the various elements of the population, to deal with:
- (1) The establishment of one or more "banks for granting long-term loans for agriculture and industry.
- (2) The practicability of a special tax upon the rising value of land.
- (3) The unification of weights and measures.
1766 - (4) The measures necessary to combat malaria.
- (5) Schemes for the proper planning of the new quarters of the chief towns.
In addition, a standing land commission similarly composed has been appointed to ascertain the area of land available for close settlement: to examine schemes of colonisation with special reference to th protection of the interests of existing cultivators and to report upon the extent and proper management of the Government lands.
The railway from Jaffa to Ludd junction has been widened. As the harbour at Haifa is silting, and owing to the expense of dredging, an extension of the existing jetty is being carried through temporarily to remedy matters pending the adoption of some scheme for the construction of a proper harbour. A large programme of road construction and repair is also being carried out.
Ordinances have been issued on the following subjects:—
Land Transfer.
Immigration.
Antiquities.
Protection of Forests.
Regulation of Advertisements.
Co-operative Societies.
Copyright.
Official Secrets.
Some first stops have also been taken to carry out the declaration of His Majesty's Government of 2nd November, 1917, such as, for instance, immigration in accordance with the Immigration Ordinance. Jews, whose application is supported by the Zionist organisation up to an agreed number may receive visas from British Consular Officers throughout the world, for admission into Palestine, the Zionist organisation accepting responsibility for their accommodation and maintenance in the case of failure to find employment. Some hundreds of immigrants are arriving monthly, and are being employed in road construction, land reclamation, and in the existing Jewish colonies. The Hebrew language, equally with Arabic and English, has been recognised as an official language in all towns and districts containing a considerable Jewish population, and in all Central Government Departments.
1767WThe situation in trans-Jordan may be summarised as follows:—
After a visit to Salt and in response to the request made by a large number of the leaders of the town populations and the tribal sheikhs Sir H. Samuel has, with the consent of His Majesty's Government, sent some five or six political officers and one gendarmerie officer to these districts to give the local population all possible advice and assistance in the establishment of local administration and self-governing institutions, in the collection of revenue and in the creation of a local gendarmerie to maintain order. Local councils are already being constituted and steps are being taken to encourage trade and improve communication with the west. Naturally, however, progress must be slow in a country where the machine of Government in any form has been hitherto practically unknown and where the sedentary population is equalled in number by the nomads.
The answer to the second part of the question is in the affirmative. The third part should be addressed to His Majesty's Treasury. My answer has already covered the fourth and fifth parts of the question.