Consent of Transjordania to Dead Sea Grant Causes Delay, Commons Hears

Amery Says Negotiations Conducted With Transjordania Government (Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

The consent of the Transjordanian Government to the draft of the concession to exploit the salts of the Dead Sea is now being awaited. This is the reason for the delay in granting the concession, declared Colonial Secretary Amery in reply to a question raised in the House of Commons by Major Glyn.

Major Glyn asked the Colonial Secretary to state why the granting of the Dead Sea concession was delayed, whether the company would be British and also whether the right of possession and a share in the royalties are being reserved for the benefit of Palestine.

In his reply, the Secretary stated that negotiations are now being conducted with the Transjordanian Government, from whom a reply is now awaited concerning the details raised in connection with the draft concession submitted. Discussion with another government involves inevitable delay, Col. Amery explained, but he hopes for an early decision. He repeated his statement of last year that the concession has been granted to Moses Novomejski and Major Tulloch, subject to terms satisfactory to both governments concerned being agreed upon.

Col. Josiah Wedgwood asked the Colonial Office whether negotiations on the Iraq Haifa oil pipe line had been settled.

The Secretary replied in the negative, stating that the matter has not been discussed between the French and English governments, because the negotiations are being conducted by the Anglo-Palestine Oil Company, a private enterprise uncontrolled by the British Government.

Col. Wedgwood also asked whether the Werko tax for rural and urban districts in Palestine had been abolished. Col. Amery replied that it is still levied in rural districts. An urban property tax will be levied next April, he stated.