5,000 Arabs Invaded Palestine from Neighboring Countries, British Parliament is Told

Approximately 5,000 Arabs invaded Palestine from neighboring countries since the adoption of the partition decision by the General assembly, it was reported today in the House of Commons during a debate on the Palestine question in which Foreign Secretary. Ernest Bevin participated.

The Palestine issue was also touched upon in the House of Lords today, during a debate on foreign affairs there. Strong criticism was voiced there against the Jewish Agency, attributing the “outrages against British troops in Palestine” to the contemptible propaganda” allegedly indulged in by leaders of the Agency.

Foreign Secretary Bevin was asked in Commons what facilities have been afforded to the International Refugee Organization, through its authorized agents, the Jewish Agency and the Joint Distribution Committee, to visit camps for displaced Jews in the British zone in Germany, in Cyprus, and in Italy, in order to select 30,000 ###ble-bodied immigrants and arrange for their transportation to Palestine. Bevin relied that no such facilities have been requested.David Bees-Williams, Colonial Under-Secretary, reported in Commons that 13 members of the Palestine police force have deserted, while two Arabs of the regular police force and 477 supernumerary police have absented themselves from duty during the last three months. He said he did not know how the British deserters were earning their livelihood or whether they were working for the Arabs.

Rees-Williams also reported that 291 Palestine Jews are now being held in tamps in Kenya as political deportees. It is the intention of the British Government to transfer them to Palestine and the necessary arrangements are now under consideration, he said.