79. Mr. PALMERasked the Secretary of State for War and Air whether he has seen a précis of the Report which General Masterman, head of the Allied Commission of the Air Control, is presenting to th Ambassadors' Conference in Paris, urging the necessity fo immediate Allied action to force Germany to execute the Clauses of the Peace Treaty dealing with suppression of military aircraft in Germany; and whether he is still prepared to trust our late enemy in regard to the 12,000 aeroplanes which, as part of the Treaty, should by now have been handed over?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLIt may be well for me to explain that Air Commodore Masterman is not acting directly under the orders of the Air Ministry with regard to the enforcement of the Air Clauses of the Peace Treaty. Marshal Foch has been deputed by the Allies to supervise the Military and Air Clauses of the Treaty, and Air Commodore Masterman, as head of the Inter-Allied Aeronautical Commission of Control reports to Marshal Foch, who refers to the Council of Ambassadors as he sees fit. Air Commodore Masterman is, of course, an officer of the Royal Air Force, and he furnishes weekly reports to the Air Ministry on the progress of his work under the Inter-Allied Commission.
Mr. PALMERIs the right hon. Gentleman still fully convinced that 12,000 aeroplanes will safely arrive in this country?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLNo, Sir. The Government intend that they shall be broken down on the spot, reduced to produce, and disposed of in the best possible manner.
§ Mr. BILLINGIs the right hon. Gentleman aware of the enormous commercial value to Great Britain of these large bomb-carrying aeroplanes? Will he offer them to those desiring to introduce a commercial service in this country?
Colonel LOWTHERIs it not a fact that all the clauses of the Treaty have been kept? Did not the Leader of the House give the House an assurance to that effect?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI said nothing in conflict with that. No doubt there are minor irregularities in the execution, but we are not confronted with a definite refusal to carry out the purposes of the Treaty.
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI do not admit that they are refusing. There are delays, and some of them unavoidable, owing to the chaotic conditions prevailing. We are not confronted with any direct refusal or repudiation of the obligations of the Treaty.
§ Mr. BILLINGMay I have an answer to my question?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLIf the hon. Member is likely to be a purchaser, he should communicate with the Disposal Branch of the Ministry of Munitions.