§ 20. Mr. MANDERasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he has any further statement to make with reference to the speech of Air Marshal Sir Geoffrey Salmond on the 26th November?
§ Sir P. SASSOONI have already explained that the speech in question was made at a private service function, and that the distinguished officer named, who was a guest, had no reason to expect that his remarks would be reported. No one regrets more than the officer himself the fact that, owing to the presence of a representative of one of the Press organisations, phrases from his speech, isolated from their context, were broadcast in the newspapers in a way likely to convey an entirely misleading impression of his intentions, from which nothing was further than to say anything which could be misconstrued as criticism of the Government. Finally, in view of the misunderstandings which have arisen, I should like to add that my Noble Friend of course accepts fully the general principle which I understand the hon. Member to postulate, namely, that it is most undesirable that servants of the Crown should express, in circumstances which may lead to their remarks being widely circulated, opinions which are liable to be misinterpreted as at variance with the approved policy of His Majesty's Government.