Concern in Parliamentary circles that the Government is determined to carry out expected recommendations of the Palestine Royal Commission regardless of opposition and without consulting the House of Commons was heightened today by Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin’s refusal to assure Commons it will be enabled to discuss the Commission’s report before it is acted on.
Replying to a demand by Geoffrey Mander, Liberal, that Commons be given an opportunity to debate the report, Mr. Baldwin declared: “Until the report is received, I can make no statement.”
Special significance is attributed to the fact that the Prime Minister replied on behalf of the Cabinet to a question addressed to the Colonial Secretary.
The consensus in the House lobby tonight was that Mr. Baldwin’s refusal to give assurances that Commons would be consulted strengthened the belief the Government is determined to enforce the Royal Commission’s recommendations arbitrarily.
Col. Josiah Wedgwood, Laborite, raising the question of whether steps were being taken to protect life and property in Palestine, asked if Colonial Secretary William Ormsby-Gore still had complete confidence in High Commissioner Sir Arthur Wauchope.
Sir Ormsby-Gore, voicing regret at the murder last week of Mrs. Mali Engelshardt and armed attacks against several Arabs, declared: “I am not in Palestine, but a great many steps have been taken since the High Commissioner’s return.”
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