Sharp criticism of the British Government in connection with continued disturbances in the Holy Land was voiced by several speakers in the House of Commons yesterday during the debate on Palestine.
Sir Percy Harris, Liberal, condemned the Government for “being caught napping” last year and for not having taken steps to increase the number of police. Asking why Arab bands were being allowed to retain arms, Sir Percy declared:
“The Jewish people went to Palestine more or less by invitation of the British Government under the auspices of the League of Nations. I think, therefore, we have the responsibility to see that they should not be liable to terrorism.”
Col. Josiah Wedgwood, Laborite, demanded that the army be given a free hand to suppress disorders.
Replying, Colonial Secretary William Ormsby-Gore admitted there had been a great deal of illicit arms filtering into Palestine and also that efforts to control the influx last year had failed.
“It’s extremely difficult to get hold of rifles and ammunition hidden in countryside and villages without the most drastic measures,” he declared.
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