HC Deb 16 June 1954 vol 528 c1954
47. Mr. Stokes

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what signal was sent from the Admiralty to Admiral North on the night of 10th September, 1940, concerning the impending passage of French ships through the Straits of Gibraltar.

Commander Noble

My right hon. Friend is grateful that this opportunity has been given to correct a misunderstanding that has arisen about the reply he gave to a supplementary question from the hon. Member for Cardiff, South-East (Mr. Callaghan) on 2nd June. What he intended to say and thought he had said was "the signal to the Admiral from the Naval Attaché, Madrid, reached Admiral North just after midnight on 10th September." There was certainly only one signal reporting the movement of the French cruisers, and that was from the Naval Attaché, Madrid, to Admiral North. The fact that my right hon. Friend had only one signal in mind is borne out elsewhere in his answers on that occasion.

Mr. Stokes

I am glad to have the matter cleared up. The First Lord did say there were signals from the Admiralty, and in that respect may I ask whether it is true that the signal from the Consul-General in Tangier was received by the Foreign Office early on 9th September, and, if so, presumably by the Admiralty? As the Admiralty and the Foreign Office knew all about Dakar and Admiral North did not, why was not some action taken?

Commander Noble

I think that that is another question.

Mr. Stokes

But can the hon. Gentleman answer it? I shall come back to this question again.