No Halt in Immigration While Disorders Prevail, Commons Told

In announcing appointment of the six-man Royal Commission the Colonial Secretary indicated in the House of Commons today that there would be no temporary suspension of immigration as long as the disturbances prevailed.

During a debate following announcement of the commission, he repeated a previous statement in connection with reports that suspension was being considered, that “a decision will be taken in due course on the merits of the case, without being influenced by violence.”

Great Britain and the East, which mirrors the sentiment of the Colonial Office, interpreted this statement — as made earlier — as foreshadowing early suspension of immigration.

Col. Josiah Wedgwood, Laborite, asked why a lord (Viscount Peel) who was known as pro-Moslem was appointed chairman of the commission.

Mr. Ormsby-Gore voiced resentment at the suggestion that any member of the commission was pro-Moslem or pro-Jewish, or against either one.

A discussion developed over failure of the Government to include a woman on the commission, several speakers insisting that inclusion of a woman member was important. The Colonial Secretary replied that a woman was not included on advice of High Commissioner Sir Arthur Grenfell Wauchope, who had consulted various Palestine communities.

In answer to a query by Col. Wedgwood on why martial law had not been proclaimed and why members of the Arab Strike Committee had not been deported from Palestine, Mr. Ormsby-Gore said that martial law was undesirable, while the matter of deportations was left to the High Commissioner’s discretion.

Great Britain and the East, in its discussion of the Palestine question, states:

“Matters will be arranged to facilitate calling off the strike and the early dispatch of the Royal Commission. Many influences have been brought to bear upon the Government to ensure that the commission be not kept long in Palestine.”