A question concerning the allotment of crown lands for Jewish settlement was raised in the House of Commons yesterday by Colonel Josiah Wedgwood, Labor member.
Colonel Wedgwood asked the Colonial Office whether it is aware that the Transjordanian Government has given certain Arab refugees 100,000 dunam of land between Amman and Derna. This land has been given, Colonel Wedgwood said, tax free for the first five years with promised protection from Bedouin raids. If this is true, Colonel Wedgwood asked, why has not the Palestinian Government or the Transjordian Government provided similarly for Jewish refugees from East Europe?
Major Ormsby-Gore replied in the negative with regard to the allotment for Arab refugees. As regards the second part of Colonel Wedgwood’s question, the Colonial Office has already informed the House of Commons that the area to which the Palestinian Government has an unchallengable title is very limited. The Article in the Palestine Mandate relating to Jewish immigration does not apply to the Transjordian Mandate.
Colonel Wedgwood pressed his questions to when the government is likely to know which crown lands it possesses. To this Major Ormsby-Gore stated that in view of the great complexity of the old Turkish land laws, it is a most laborious business to ascertain the Palestinian land titles. However, the land survey is continuing. The Under-secretary for the Colonies again assured the member that he is unaware of the Transjordanian Arab settlement referred to.
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