(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
A lengthy debate on the concession to exploit the salts of the Dead Sea took place in the House of Lords on Tuesday.
Lord Islington asked what progress had been made toward settlement, while Lord Thomson complained of the long delay in granting the concession.
Lord Lovat, Under-Secretary of the Dominions, replied that the delay was unavoidable and that negotiations must be conducted step by step. The Colonial Secretary is awaiting reports from the Palestine and Transjordanian governments. Meanwhile, it is inadvisable to report on them. The government considers the financial support behind Novomejski and Tulloch satisfactory, he stated.
Viscount Haldane said that the Colonial Office had been dilatory. Lord Gainsford urged that British interests be safeguarded when the concession is granted, while Lord Dansford demanded that the terms of the concession be submitted to parliament.
Lord Birkenhead replied that the government is ready to submit to parliament the names of those concerned before signing the binding agreement, but it is unable to submit the terms of the agreement. This has never been the practice. It is impossible to conduct delicate negotiations if particular interests are discussed in parliament, he stated
A resolution demanding the submission of papers on the concession was defeated by a vote of 38 against 25.
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