HC Deb 15 July 1947 vol 440 cc206-7
24. Brigadier Low

asked the Secretary of State for War whether it is intended to send a cricket team from the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst to the Indian Military Academy at Dehra Dun, India, this winter, in return for the successful tour by the Indian Military Academy cadets in England this summer.

Mr. Bellenger

No, Sir, this is, unfortunately, not possible.

Brigadier Low

Would the right hon. Gentleman give this further consideration? Is it not desirable in the interests of friendship and co-operation between the Army of this country and the Armies of the future Dominions of India and Pakistan that visits such as these should be paid from time to time?

Mr. Bellenger

As the House knows, I used to take a great interest in cricket and I still do; but I regret to say that our cadets at Sandhurst have only 18 months in which to train and, therefore, it is not possible to go in for these cricket matches in other parts of the world.