§ Colonel Wedgwoodasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that 75 Revisionists are hunger-striking in Sarafand concentration camp on account of their imprisonment without 2393W trial beyond their legal term; what he proposes to do about it; and what steps are taken to maintain dependants during these incarcerations as during the incarceration of the Arab leaders?
Mr. M. Mac DonaldI am aware that 73 Jews detained under Emergency Regulation 15B started a hunger strike at Sarafand camp on the 27th July. The High Commissioner has now reported that these persons broke their strike on the 31st July. As regards the third part of the question, no Government assistance has been given to the dependants of Arabs detained under Emergency Regulations, and no assistance is contemplated in respect of either Jews or Arabs.
§ Sir J. Haslamasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Government's stoppage of legal immigration into Palestine means that not a single refugee child or any dependent parents can be legally admitted into Palestine?
Mr. M. MacDonaldSo far as concerns the next quota period, October, 1939, to March, 1940, the answer is in the affirmative. As I explained in my statement in the Debate on 20th July, the White Paper Policy makes specific provision for the immigration into Palestine of considerable numbers of refugee children and dependants. His Majesty's Government are anxious that this immigration should be resumed after the next quota period, but whether this can be so must depend on the position regarding illegal immigration.
§ Mr. Manderasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what percentage of illegal Jewish immigrants from Poland and Rumania into Palestine had come from greater Germany within the prior two years; and on what evidence the estimate is based that 40 per cent. of these immigrants come from Poland and Rumania, in view of the practice of such immigrants to throw their papers overboard?
Mr. M. MacDonaldThe evidence available is insufficient to give the percentage asked for in the first part of the question, but from such information as we possess there is no reason to suppose that it is a large percentage. With regard to the second part of the question, this percentage was based on information received from His Majesty's representatives2394W in European countries, on statements by the illegal immigrants themselves, and on other information obtained in Palestine.
§ Mr. J. Hallasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the fact that the complete stoppage of legal Jewish immigration into Palestine is bound to increase illegal immigration and will serve as a further encouragement to terrorism in Palestine thereby aggravating rather than improving the situation in that country, he will reconsider his decision?
Mr. M. MacDonaldFor the reasons which I have stated fully in this House I cannot accept this suggestion.
§ Mr. T. Williamsasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will encourage the Jewish authorities to send a commission to inquire into the possibilities of settlement of Jewish refugees in the Negeb, and undertake that in the event of a favourable report, immigration to the Negeb would be considered additional to the quota of 75,000 Jews which the White Paper provides for the immigration into Palestine during the next five years?
Mr. M. MacDonaldI am prepared to consider sympathetically any proposals which may be made by responsible organisations, Jewish or otherwise, for the investigation of the possibilities of settlement in the unoccupied part of the Negeb, but I cannot say when the state of the country will permit of such investigations being initiated. As regards the last part of the question, the answer is in the negative.
§ Mr. Noel-Bakerasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will propose to the Council of the League of Nations that the recent White Paper on Palestine and the report of the Permanent Mandates Commission thereon shall be referred to the Permanent Court of International Justice at the Hague for an advisory opinion?
Mr. M. MacDonaldI cannot at this stage give any indication of the attitude which His Majesty's Government would propose to take at the meeting of the Council of the League of Nations.
§ Mr. Noel-Bakerasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why the Government of Palestine has withheld certain rents due by them in April last, to the 2395W Ethiopian convent in Jerusalem, in payment for certain premises belonging to the convent and hired by the Government?
Mr. M. MacDonaldI am informed that this rent has now been paid to the Superior of the Ethiopian Convent. I am awaiting a report on the matter from the High Commissioner, and I will communicate further with the hon. Member when I have received it.
§ Mr. Harveyasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to the plight of a party of over 700 refugees from Czechoslovakia, of whom a large majority are Jews, who were not able to land in Palestine and are now in temporary quarantine at Beyrouth, leave for which was due to expire on 21st July; and whether temporary hospitality in Cyprus in a controlled camp could be granted to them, pending more permanent arrangements?
Mr. M. MacDonaldThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. With regard to the second part, I have given consideration to this suggestion, but am afraid that the difficulties in its way are insuperable.
§ Mr. Prittasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, as the 25,000 certificates promised in the Palestine White Paper for German Jewish refugees, were to be made available as soon as the High Commissioner was satisfied that adequate provision for their maintenance is ensured, and were to be additional to the yearly quota of 10,000 Jewish immigrants for the next five years and, as the complete suspension of Jewish immigration in Palestine as from the 1st October next is therefore a departure from the White Paper, since the estimate of illegal immigration is far less than 25,000, he will state why this action has been taken, and will he reconsider it?
Mr. M. MacDonaldI do not accept the view that the policy which has been announced is a departure from the White Paper policy, and I explained the position in the statement which I made on this matter in the Debate on 20th July, to which I have nothing to add.
§ Colonel Wedgwoodasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what are the terms of the amendment to the Palestine Press Ordinance; whether the repudiation 2396W of violence signed by 200 leading Jews of Palestine was spontaneous or inspired by fear of Government reprisals; whether the unauthorised reprisals by plain-clothes men have met with resistance or continue; what the punishment is for breaking the curfew law; whether any such punishment has been incurred; whether the four houses in Tiberias have yet been blown up; and whether vicarious or collective punishment is now to be applied to both sides in Palestine, seeing that convictions under the ordinary law have become impracticable through want of evidence?
Mr. M. MacDonaldI am sending the right hon. Member copies of the text of the two recent Ordinances amending the Palestine Press Ordinance. There is no reason to suppose that the declaration referred to in the second part of the question was inspired in any way by fear of Government reprisals.
As regards the third part of the question, I am informed that there have been a few cases of brawls, and where allegations have been substantiated appropriate disciplinary action has been taken. There have been no recent reports of this nature. The maximum penalty for breaking curfew regulations is six months' imprisonment or a fine of £100 or both. Persons in towns have been prosecuted for this offence and the penalty inflicted has varied from a fine of 50 mils up to, in a few instances, a fine of £5. No houses in Tiberias have been blown up. Collective punishment has always been, and will continue to be, imposed impartially on the different communities in Palestine.