§ The following question, stood upon, the Order Paper in the name of Colonel WEDGWOOD:
§ 14. To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the fact that this country spends £1,500,000 a year on a force to prevent Iraq being returned to the Turks and in view of the feelings towards Great Britain as illustrated by their interference in Palestine and the official reception given to the Iraqi organiser of the murders in Palestine, he will notify the Government of Iraq that our Air Force will be withdrawn from that country in the near future?
§ Captain HAROLD BALFOURBefore this question is put, may I ask, Mr. Speaker, for your Ruling on this point? This question makes a direct charge of guilt, or responsibility for murder, against an individual, and, in view of the fact that he has not yet been tried by any court, is it in order for an hon. Member of this House, by means of a statement in a question, to prejudge the possible verdict of the Palestine Judiciary?
§ Colonel WEDGWOODMay I ask you, Mr. Speaker, whether you are aware at the same time that a price has been put on this individual's head by the Palestine Government?
§ Mr. SPEAKERWhen I saw this question it did not seem to me that it was out of order. I take it that the right hon. and gallant Member makes himself responsible for the statements in his question.
§ Mr. EDENI cannot accept the premises on which this question is based, and I do not propose to make any notification of the nature suggested to the Iraqi Government.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman with which par- 820 ticular item in the question he does not associate himself? Is he not aware that this organiser was received and feted in Bagdad when he arrived from Palestine?
§ Mr. EDENThe right hon. and gallant Gentleman asked me a question which contained the statement that we spent £1,500,000 a year in Iraq, and I do not accept the implications in that question.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODDoes the right hon. Gentleman deny that we spend £1,500,000 a year on our Air Force in Iraq in order to protect that country from Turkey?
§ Colonel WEDGWOODThen may I ask what we do spend?
§ Mr. EDENPerhaps the right hon. and gallant Gentleman will put down a question. I merely said that I did not accept his statement.