§ 75. Mr. P. Noel-Bakerasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that on 11th February the Royal Air Force dropped more than 20 tons of high-explosive bombs and fired 72 rockets on the village of Danaba in the Aden Western Protectorate; that, in this operation, all the buildings in the village were rendered uninhabitable; that this has given valuable material for propaganda to people who may be seeking to stir up unrest and subversion; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ProfumoYes. I understand that the greater part of the village was destroyed.
I do not accept the suggestion that this action gives material for propaganda to those interested in stirring up unrest in the Protectorate, because any action we take will be twisted and misconstrued by such people.
The attack was carried out after the inhabitants of Danaba had repeatedly refused to comply with the order of the Amir of Dhala that they should hand over to him the Azraqi tribesmen from that village who had attacked a Government security patrol of Cameron Highlanders, murdering two and wounding six others. It was undertaken after full warning and no lives were lost. It was, in fact, both the most effective and the most humane way of ensuring that the village would not again be used by dissident tribesmen as a base for attacks on Government forces.