§ Colonel HOWARD-BURYasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any ordinances have been promulgated in Palestine to stop the alienation of Arab holdings or what steps have been taken to prevent further additions being made to the number of landless Arabs?
§ Dr. SHIELSIn accordance with the last sentence of paragraph 12 of the Prime Minister's letter to Dr. Weizmann of 13th February, an ordinance was promulgated on Friday last to protect tenancy and occupancy rights, including the rights of squatters, throughout Palestine. As stated in the preceding part of that paragraph, the centralised control of land transactions will take effect as from such date only as the authority charged with the duty of carrying out the policy of land development shall begin to operate.