§ 62. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether the air attaches accredited to the foreign embassies and legations in London were invited to attend the mimic air-war manoeuvres over Middlesex and the Home Counties last week; and whether any other distinguished foreign visitors present in the country were granted facilities to witness the manœuvres?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for AIR (Mr. Montague)Arrangements were made for a visit to two Air Force stations by the Air attaches on the 21st July. The Chilean Under-Secretary of State for Aviation was also invited.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYCan the hon. Gentleman answer the second part of my question and, particularly, whether the distinguished foreign visitors to the Seven-Power Conference were invited to observe these manœuvres?
§ Mr. MONTAGUENo, Sir. It was necessary to keep the number of such invitations as low as possible. For one thing it would have been necessary to attach an officer to each party, and beyond those I have mentioned, there were no other invitations.
§ Mr. de ROTHSCHILDIn view of the fact that the Conference was sitting here at the time, will the hon. Gentleman inform us whether these manœuvres were staged as an encouragement or as a deterrent?
§ Mr. MONTAGUEI think the hon. Gentleman knows very well—
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat is a matter of opinion.