Voices From The Past: Who Was A Terrorist in "Palestine"?

HC Deb 13 July 1938 vol 338 cc1298-9 1298

§ 11. Lieut.-Commander Fletcher asked the Prime Minister whether he will bring the existing state of affairs in Palestine to the notice of the French Government with a view to their ceasing to afford an asylum, in territory under French jurisdiction, to Arab leaders engaged in fomenting and directing the terrorist campaign in Palestine?

§ Mr. Butler As in the case of the ex-Mufti of Jerusalem, close contact has been and is being maintained with the French Government regarding the alleged political activities of other Arab leaders in the territories under French Mandate.

§ Lieut.-Commander Fletcher Is it not abundantly clear that the campaign of terrorism in Palestine is controlled, inspired and directed by the Mufti from Syria, and is it not impossible to stop this terrorism in Palestine unless it is dealt with at its source in Syria?

§ Mr. Butler I have informed the hon. and gallant Member that close contact has been and is being maintained with the French authorities.

§ Mr. Gallacher Is it not the case that these Arab leaders are fighting for the independence of their country?

§ 43. Commander Locker-Lampson asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can now state how many times the pipe-line in Palestine has been cut since its inception; and how many Arabs have been responsible for its injury and how many Jews, respectively?

§ The Secretary of State for the Colonies (Mr. Malcolm MacDonald) I am not in a position to supply the statistics for which my hon. and gallant Friend asks. The pipe-line has been attacked on a number of occasions by Arabs. I am not aware that there have been any Jewish attacks upon it.

§ Commander Locker-Lampson Is this not an additional argument in favour of increasing later the number of Jewish people who are allowed to bear arms?

§ Mr. MacDonald I said in answer to a previous question that the matter is under consideration.