HC Deb 05 July 1928 vol 219 cc1573-4
Rear-Admiral SUETER (By Private Notice)

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether there have been any further developments in connection with the offer of the Royal Air Force to send aircraft to Norway for use in the operations which are being undertaken for the rescue of Captain Amundsen; and how this matter now stands?

Sir P. SASSOON

The first request from Norway, which was for the loan of two float seaplanes, was received in the Air Ministry on Saturday evening, and an immediate reply was despatched the same night intimating the readiness of the Royal Air Force to make these aircraft available and asking urgently for further particulars as to the type required. On Monday afternoon an answer was received to the effect that the machines required were not float seaplanes of service type but Moth light aeroplanes. An offer was at once made that the Royal Air Force should fly up to four machines of this type to Norway and there hand them over to the Norwegian authorities for use in such manner as they thought fit, since delivery by air appeared to be the quickest method available. The Norwegian Government, however, replied on Tuesday that they feared that under the latest arrangements made for the sailing of the relief vessel from Tromso the machines could not arrive in time, even if flown direct to Norway, and that, in these circumstances, whilst they warmly appreciated this ready offer of assistance, they regretted that they could not avail themselves of it.

Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

May I ask whether when we first offered our assistance to the Italian authorities in the work of rescuing the crew of the "Italia" we were also in touch with the Norwegian authorities in order to co-operate with them for the rescue of the explorer Amundsen, or were we only in communication with the Italian authorities?

Sir P. SASSOON

The explorer Amundsen had not then met with his accident.

Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

I am aware of that, but surely the hon. Baronet does not wish to get out of answering my question in that way. Have we only been in communication with the Italian authorities or have we co-operated with the Norwegian authorities?

Sir P. SASSOON

In connection with the accident to the "Italia," we have only been in communication with the Italian authorities.