SIR GILBERT PARKEROn behalf of the hon. Member for Stepney, I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether qualification in the language of the country to which they are sent is considered a sine quâ non when appointments as military attaché to foreign Courts are made; and if not, whether he can give an assurance that such qualification will for the future be obligatory.
§ MR. HALDANEIn selecting officers for the appointment of military attaché at a foreign Court, due weight is always given to knowledge of the language of that Court, but the rank and personal attributes of the officer have also to be considered. To make the language qualification obligatory would be unduly 1039 to limit the choice as regards some of these appointments, and I do not therefore propose to adopt the hon. and gallant Member's suggestion.
§ SIR HOWARD VINCENT (Sheffield, Central)How can an attaché be of any use unless he knows the language of the Court to which he is attached?
§ MR. HALDANEA man who does not know the language might occasionally be an advantage. I have heard of cases in which information has been more freely given to a person who was supposed not to know the language. It is, of course, absolutely necessary to have a current language to use—it may be French, it may be English, or it may be some other language. But the most important qualification is military knowledge, and, in many cases, diplomatic tact. These things have to be taken into account as well as the language.
SIR GILBERT PARKERThen a British soldier may be sent as attaché to the Court of a country of which he does not know the language?
§ MR. HALDANEYes. It may be that French is enough for an attaché's purpose, for French may be the usual language of communication.