M. P.’s Score British Policy on Zion Entry

The government’s policy with regard to immigration of Jews into Palestine ###me under fire in the House of Commons again today when two members of the House, Captain W. F. Strickland and Rhys Davies, queried Colonial Secretary Cunliffe-Lister at length on the government’s stand.

Pointing out, in a series of questions, the dissatisfaction existing with regard to the restriction of Jewish immigration, in view of the British government’s undertaking to assist the Jews in the reconstruction of Palestine, the two men asked. Cunliffe-Lister whether he would consult Palestine High Commissioner Wauchope with regard to an increase in the immigration quota.

Cunliffe-Lister, in reply, asserted that the immigration restrictions were based on the absorptive capacity of the country. He could not give detailed figures on this, he said, without notice. In any event, High Commissioner Wauchope was the sole judge of the country’s absorptive capacity.

Captain Strickland asked the Colonial Secretary whether he would not agree that there had been government restrictions on Jewish immigration. Cunliffe-Lister declared in reply that the policy of the government had not changed in the past fifteen years. He admitted, however, that the number of visas requested by the Jewish Agency for Palestine had been restricted by the government.