HC Deb 01 May 1940 vol 360 cc725-7W
Mr. T. Williams

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why the Palestine Hebrew dailies, "Davar," "Haaretz" and "Hatzsfe," were not permitted to resume publication until 25th March, although the permits were reissued on 2nd March?

Mr. M. MacDonald

Since my answer to a Question by the hon. Member on 10th April, I have received a fuller report on this matter, and I regret that some of the information on which I based my earlier answer was not entirely accurate. The three papers in question, whose permits to publish had been temporarily revoked on 29th February, were informed by telephone on 1st March that application could be made for the re-issue of their permits. Such applications were not, however, submitted until 10th March, 12th March and 10th March respectively. In the meantime, on 3rd March, "dummies"—that is, newspapers registered by the presses affected and held in reserve to take the place of the main publication in case of suspension—had been published and continued to appear to 21 years, in the different mining areas in the coalfields for 1939?

Mr. Lloyd

Following is the information:

until permits were re-issued on 22nd March and the main newspapers were able to appear again. For all practical purposes publication of the three newspapers was interrupted for only one day, 1st March, 2nd March being the Jewish Sabbath.

Mr. T. Williams

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has now inquired into the reasons why the Hebrew weekly "Hafsel Hatzair," organ of the Palestine Labour party, published at Tel-Aviv, was prohibited on 20th March for printing in its issue of 1st March, the statement of the Jewish National Council of Palestine, Vaad Leumi, against the Land Transfer Regulations; and whether he will make a statement?

Mr. MacDonald

I am informed that "Hafsel Hatzair" printed its issue of 1st March without including the Vaad Leumi manifesto, which had been banned by the Censor, and a copy of this issue was submitted to the District Commissioner in accordance with the requirements of the Press Ordinance. Subsequently it was ascertained that a supplementary issue of the paper had been published later on the same day with additional pages containing the manifesto. No copy of this supplementary edition was submitted to Government, and the paper's permit was accordingly cancelled by an order of 20th March. The proprietor was informed at the same time that an application for the issue of a new permit would be considered after two weeks.