§ Major Procterasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has yet received a report from Palestine with regard to the arrangements made for the regular embarkation and disembarkation of passengers at the new port of Tel Aviv?
§ Mr. Ormsby-GoreThe Palestine Government decided in the autumn of 1937 that the embarkation and disembarkation of passengers should be permitted at Tel Aviv, subject to the provision of satisfactory arrangements by the Marine Trust, Limited, for the safety and accommodation of passengers and on the condition that the company should reimburse Government for any additional expenditure which would thereby be incurred.
The company thereupon sought advice from a firm of consulting engineers as to the measures required to ensure the safety of passengers; and a copy of the firm's reply was communicated to the Palestine Government. In the light of the advice so tendered, and after consultation with the port authorities and the Departments concerned, the Palestine Government informed the company in February, 1938, that embarkation and disembarkation of passengers would be permitted as soon as the requisite buildings on shore and the launches were ready, and had been approved, and subject to the absolute discretion of the port officer to decide when conditions are safe, and to allow or disallow the landing or embarkation of 551W passengers or immigrants accordingly. Shore buildings and launches have now been provided to the satisfaction of Government, and negotiations with regard to the financial procedure to be followed as between the company and the Departments are proceeding. It is expected that these negotiations will be completed in the near future, and that the opening of the passenger service can then be permitted.