§ 36. Mr. Gallacherasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what was the attitude taken by the British Government's representative to the United Nations Political Committee towards the letter of the Somali Youth League sent to the United Nations on 13th October, 1949, and discussed by the Political Committee.
§ Mr. BevinThe letter in question, which contained a number of baseless allegations against the British administration in Italian Somaliland, was discussed in the Political Committee of the United Nations on 15th and 18th October. My right hon. Friend, the Minister of State, refuted the allegations in the course of the debate. A resolution which might have implied criticism of the British administration of the territory was subsequently rejected.
§ Mr. GallacherIs it not the case, as the Minister admits, that very serious allegations have been made against the British military and political administration and that the only rebuttal of it by the Minister was a statement from the accused official, and will not the Foreign Secretary encourage an independent inquiry into what is going on in Somaliland?
§ Mr. BevinI would like to be able to conduct a thorough, independent inquiry into how the hon. Member's friends managed to stir up this thing.
§ Mr. Henry UsborneWill the Foreign Secretary tell the House what proportion of the reports issued by the political committee of the United Nations he personally ever has time to read?