The conversations are now at an end. I hope it may be possible to make a further statement in the near future, Dr. Drummond Shiels, the Under-Secretary of state for the Colonies, said in the House of Commons this afternoon, replying to Colonel Howard-Bury, (Conservative) the leading champion in the House of the views of the Palestine Arab Executive, who had asked him whether the conversations with the Jewish Agency had concluded and whether he could make a further statement about the proposals with regard to development in Palestine.
When Colonel Howard-Bury asked whether he was satisfied that an opportunity had been given to both parties to put their views before His Majesty’s Government, Dr. Shiels replied:
I have never said that we had satisfied the Jewish interests. What I have said before and what I say now is that an opportunity has been given to both parties to put their case before His Majesty’s Government in regard to this subject.
Does Dr. Shiels think it possible to satisfy either party or both, Major Ross (Conservative) asked, and Earl Winterton (Conservative), former Under-Secretary for India, suggested that “in view of the disturbing nature of the news that has come from Palestine”, Dr. Shiels should “consider publishing a White Paper showing the basis of the conversations”.
I don’t think that is necessary, Dr. Shiels replied to Lord Winterton’s suggestion. It is quite well known what the conversations were about. They were about the new Development Scheme and a statement will be made in regard to that scheme very shortly.
Is it not necessary to state what these conversations did? Lord Winterton persisted.
These conversations, Dr. Shiels returned, were merely an opportunity for both sides to give their views on the proposals of His Majesty’s Government in regard to the development proposals, and the result of these conversations will be announced in the statement which will be made very shortly.
I think the statement will be made within the next few weeks, Dr. Shiels added, when Mr. McShane, a Labour member, asked when this statement would be made.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
