Dead Sea Concession Again Discussed in Parliament by Bury and Henderson

The matter of the Dead Sea concession was again discussed in the House of Commons when Howard Bury asked Arthur Henderson, foreign secretary, whether the British government had assented to arbitration regarding the French claim to the Dead Sea before assigning the concession finally to the Jewish engineer, Moses Novomejsky and his associate, Major Tulloch. Bury also asked whether the French government had made further representations, considering that the Novomejsky agreement was signed while the French claim was sub judice.

Henderson replied that the British government had not decided to agree to arbitration and therefore the question was not sub judice. He also explained that the British government was never notified that the French ambassador was willing to arbitrate and had not received any further representations. Bury insisted on knowing whether under the optional clause the British government is not compelled to take the matter to the Hague Tribunal. Henderson disagreed and finally advised Bury to address the question regarding arbitration to the Colonial Office.