§ 48. Brigadier-General SPEARSasked the Prime Minister whether there is still a British representative on the Military Inter-Allied Committee at Versailles under Marshal Foch; what functions are discharged by this Committee and whether the British military attaché in Paris is a member of the Committee?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for WAR (Major Attlee)I have been asked to reply. The answers to the first and third parts of the question are in the affirmative. As regards the second part, the Committee act in an advisory capacity to the Conference of Ambassadors on all military matters referred to that body.
§ Brigadier-General SPEARSAre we to take it that our military attaché is a subordinate of Marshal Foch?
§ Major ATTLEEI do not know why the hon. and gallant Gentleman should take that.
§ Mr. PRINGLEIf the Ambassadors' Conference was dispensed with, should we not get rid of these costly officials?
§ Major ATTLEEYou would still have a military attaché at Paris. There is only one extra officer involved in the duties performed in connection with the Inter-Allied Committee.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODWill the hon. and gallant Gentleman see if it is not possible for the Ambassador to agree to take on, dilutees?
§ Major ATTLEEThat question should be put to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs.
§ Brigadier-General SPEARSIs the hon. and gallant Gentleman accurate in stating that only one officer is attached to this Committee? Is it not, rather, that there is one officer attached to the military staff of the military attaché?
§ Major ATTLEEThe hon. and gallant Gentleman is quite correct and I am equally correct. What I said was, that there were two officers who would be there whether this work was being done or not, but only one additional to the ordinary establishment.