§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many of the Arab industries are working normally; whether Arabs are still working at the Nescher cement works, at the potash works at the Dead Sea, at the port of Haifa, and on the railway, postal, and telephone undertakings; and how many Arab workers are employed in each case?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREI have no recent or detailed information on this matter and accordingly I am asking the High Commissioner for a report.
§ Mr. GALLACHERasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the official communiqué issued by the Palestine authorities on 6th July reports three cases of accidental shooting in one day, two of them fatal, the victims being two Arabs and one Egyptian; that the two shot Arabs were engaged in their normal duties at the time; and will he secure a full report of these incidents?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREThe Palestine Government communiqué to which the hon. Member refers reported that a watchman at Dilb was wounded in the leg when a British police patrol was fired on; that an Egyptian labourer at Lydda Station was shot by mistake and seriously wounded by a British soldier, and that a Jewish watchman reported to the police that he had accidentally shot near Zichron an Arab who was fatally wounded. I have no doubt that both the accidents referred to have been properly investigated and that I shall receive reports in due course.
§ Mr. GALLACHERasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that Communiqué 174, issued by the Palestine authorities, reports the killing of a two-years-old baby, a six-years-old child, and two women while asleep in 463W their homes; and, as such people could have had no connection with rioting, will he secure a report of the incidents and the events leading to them?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREI assume that the hon. Member refers to the incidents reported in the two Palestine Government communiqués of the 12th July. The following are the facts reported. About midnight on the 11th-12th July a military patrol was fired on heavily near the village of Qula. The troops replied and later searched a house from which firing had come; some live and expended ammunition was found and four arrests were made. Subsequently, when the whole village was searched, it was found that during the firing a man and a woman were seriously wounded and two men slightly wounded. On the night of the 11th July a police patrol car was fired on near Acre and the police replied. During the shooting a child, asleep in a hut near by, was accidentally killed by a stray bullet. Greatly as I deplore the loss of life and suffering entailed by the necessary use of force, and in particular the death or wounding of innocent persons, it will be appreciated that the Government has no choice while the present campaign of violent disorder persists, and that it is impossible to ensure that no innocent persons will suffer.