§ 7. Mr. Ammonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information as to whether there is still a military camp on the outskirts of Rome; whether there are still armament factories within the city or close proximity; and whether Rome has now become the railway centre for Italian military purposes?
§ Mr. EdenThe answer to the first two parts of my hon. Friend's Question is in the affirmative. As regards the third part of the Question, Rome lies on the main railway line from Northern to Southern Italy.
§ Mr. EdenI think my right hon. Friend made it plain in September that we have as much right to bomb Rome as the Italians had to bomb London, and we should not hesitate to do so to the best of our ability, and as heavily as possible, if the course of the war should render such action convenient and helpful.
§ Commander Sir Archibald SouthbyWill my right hon. Friend press on his colleagues in the Cabinet the necessity of seeing that we prosecute the war with vigour by bombing Rome?
§ Mr. EdenMy hon. and gallant Friend must surely be aware that this is a completely united Cabinet on all points.
§ Colonel Sir A. Lambert WardWill the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that only two years ago Mussolini wrote to Hitler asking to be allowed the honour of sharing in the bombing of London?
§ Mr. George GriffithsIs it more difficult to get to Rome than to Berlin?