Never at Any Time Has Tension Been So High As To-day Colonel Howardbury Alleges in House of Commons:

In the House of Commons to-day Mr. Holford Knight (Labour) asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies, whether he would say what was the latest information about the situation in Palestine.

I understand that the situation continues unchanged, Dr. Drummond Shiels replied. No incidents of a special significance have been brought to notice. The police action usually called for on the occasion of religious celebrations will of course be taken.

May I ask whether the High Commissioner is on leave, Mr. Knight pursued, or whether we can have an assurance that all suitable precautions are being taken in view of the approach of Easter.

The High Commissioner is not on leave, Dr. Shiels replied. He is at the post of duty. I can assure Mr. Knight that every possible precaution is being taken.

Sir Henry Betterton, who was one of the members of the Shaw Enquiry Commission, asked if there was any information about an act of brigandage reported in the press.

No, Sir, Dr. Shiels answered. I have no intimation of that kind.

Mr. J. J. KeShane (Labour) asked whether unemployment was increasing or decreasing among the Arabs.

I believe there is a considerable amount of unemployment, Dr. Shiels said, but I cannot say whether it is increasing or decreasing.

Colonel Howard-Bury (Conservative) asked whether Dr. Shiels could make a statement as to the situation in Palestine since the publication of the Prime Minister’s letter to Dr. Weizmann, and if he had any information as to the causes and extent of the Arab boycott.

As regards the first part of the question, Dr. Drummond Shiels replied, I would refer Colonel Howard-Bury to my reply to Mr. Holford Knight. As regards the last part of the question, the High Commissioner has reported that the Arab Executive issued on the 13th. inst. a manifesto calling upon all Arabs to adopt within certain limits a commercial boycott of Jews. No information has been received as to the extent to which the boycott has yet been put into practice.

Is Dr. Shiels aware, Colonel Howard-Bury said, that never at any time has tension been so high as it is to-day, and in view of the urgent need for co-operation between Jews and Arabs, will not the Government make some attempt to bring this about by altering the terms of that letter?

We are always endeavouring to bring about co-operation between the two parties, as Colonel Howard-Bury knows very well, Dr. Shiels answered, but as he also knows, it is a very difficult task, but it is one which we certainly intend to pursue.

Is he aware, Colonel Howard-Bury continued, that the letter written by the Prime Minister to Dr. Weizmann has had exactly the opposite effect?

I know it has been criticised, Dr. Shiels replied, but I am not prepared to accept the suggestion.