§ 42. Mr. ROSEasked the Secretary of State for Air what action, if any, he proposes to take with the Airship Guarantee Company for publishing photographs revealing the technical structural details of the Airship R100 without his authority?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for AIR (Sir Philip Sassoon)As I informed the hon. Member on 30th November, the published photographs which I have seen appear to be unobjectionable, and I do not consider that any action is necessary.
§ Mr. ROSEIn view of the publication of these technical details, is the hon. Gentleman now prepared to allow me to proceed to Cardington with my hon. Friend the Member for Springburn (Mr. Hardie) without any obligation of secrecy?
§ Sir P. SASSOONI should be very sorry for anyone who tried to construct an air ship on the lines of R100 from the photo graphs which have been published. If the hon. Member will promise not to take a camera to Cardington, perhaps he will put forward his request again—
§ Mr. ROSEAre we to understand then that in the disclosure of official secrets a newspaper photographer takes precedence over a Member of this honourable House?
§ Sir P. SASSOONI do not think these photographs disclosed any secrets. A Member of the House might.
§ Mr. HARDIEDoes the hon. Baronet by his last answer imply that no Member of this House can be trusted with national affairs?
§ Sir P. SASSOONNot at all, but the hon. Member said, when he asked to go to Cardington, that he would not give any undertaking not to disclose secrets.
§ Mr. HARDIEIs not the oath taken in this House sufficient to govern that as well as other secrets?
§ Mr. ERNEST BROWNMay I ask the hon. Baronet if his judgment of Members, of this House is drawn from his own experience on the Staff in the War?
§ Captain GARRO-JONESIs the hon. Baronet in a position to give an assurance that no unofficial persons of any kind have visited this area?
§ Sir P. SASSOONAll those who have visited the station have undertaken not to disclose any technical secrets they may have seen there.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYCannot the hon. Baronet explain his previous answer when he talked about disclosing secrets?
Mr. SPEAKERI understood the hon. Baronet to mean that hon. Members were more clever photographers than the Press, but, if the hon. and gallant Member would like a further explanation, I have no doubt the hon. Baronet could give it.
§ Sir P. SASSOONI am very sorry if my answer was in any way misunderstood. It certainly was meant entirely as you, Mr. Speaker, put it.
§ Mr. HARDIEI was one of a deputation that went to the Farnworth air place, and I think the remarks that have been made reflect very badly indeed on hon. Members. We were not asked anything, but were taken round on our honour, and our honour is as good as that of any man on the Front Bench opposite.