§ 64. Sir BERTRAM FALLEasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if permission was asked and given for the recent flight of a German airship over Portsmouth and her defences and harbours, as well as over London; and if any 617 restriction as to the taking of photographs were required of the officers and crew?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for AIR (Sir Philip Sassoon)No, Sir; I am informed on reliable authority that this airship did not fly over any portion of the prohibited area in question, and that no photographs of it were taken. My hon. and gallant Friend is no doubt aware that under the Anglo-German Air Agreement (Command Paper 3010) no formal permission for a flight over non-prohibited areas is necessary.
§ Sir B. FALLEIs my right hon. Friend aware that it is over 17 years since a German Zeppelin flew over Portsmouth, that the commandant of that airship lost his way and was not able to pick out where he was, and that next time the German Zeppelin will know its way?
§ Commander MARSDENDoes my right hon. Friend not realise that the German justification for bombing London was that they considered it a fortified town?