§ 6. Mr. MANDERasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the desirability has been considered of sending a contingent of the Royal Air Fore as part of the Saar international police force, in view of its value for reconnaissance work?
§ Sir J. SIMONThe composition of the British contingent of the Saar inter national police force is being stated by my right hon. Friend, the Financial Secretary to the War Office, in reply to the questions asked by my hon. Friends, the Members for South Cardiff (Captain A. Evans) and Elland (Mr. Levy).
§ Mr. MANDERDo I understand that an Air Force contingent is not included?
§ Sir J. SIMONIf the hon. Member presses his question, perhaps he will allow me to say that it did not occur to me that it was necessary that we should have a reconnaisance force for the purpose of seeing how the people voted.
§ Mr. MANDERI quite agree with the right hon. Gentleman, but might not a reconnaisance force be useful to see whether any sort of invasion or putsch was taking place?
§ Sir J. SIMONIn all the circumstances I think the hon. Member might join the rest of us in putting some confidence in the British Commander-in-Chief.
§ 60. Mr. LEVYasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office what British units will form part of the Saar force, and the name of the British officer who will command the force?
61. Captain A. EVANSasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office 361 whether the composition of the British force to be sent to the Saar, and by whom the detachment will be commanded?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the WAR OFFICE (Mr. Douglas Hacking)The British contingent will consist of the Headquarters of the 13th Infantry Brigade, with the 1st Battalion the Essex Regiment and the 1st Battalion the East Lancashire Regiment, and in addition the necessary detachments of other arms and services such as as the Corps of Royal Engineers, the Royal Corps of Signals, the Royal Army Service Corps, the Royal Army Medical Corps and the Royal Army Ordnance Corps. The British contingent will also include a squadron of the 12th Lancers, with eight armoured cars which will follow after Christmas. The International Force will be commanded by Major-General J. E. S. Brind, and the British contingent by Brigadier J. H. T. Priestman. I regret that it was necessary to give some of this information to the Press before the whole of it could be given to the House. In view of the many rumours which were causing uncertainty amongst units of the Army it was deemed advisable to publish the names of the battalions concerned as soon as a definite decision was reached last night.
§ Mr. LEVYWhile thanking my hon. Friend for his reply, may I ask who will pay the cost of the British troops in the Saar?
§ Mr. HACKINGI can only say that no extra cost involved will fall upon Army funds.
§ Brigadier-General NATIONWill these units proceed on a peace establishment as regards arms and equipment?
§ Mr. HACKINGNo, Sir. They will have active service equipment.
§ Mr. LEVYAre we to understand from the right hon. Gentleman's reply that the League of Nations will provide the funds for the payment of these troops?
§ Mr. HACKINGThat is no concern of mine. I am quite satisfied so long as the cost does not fall upon Army funds.
§ Mr. PETHERICKCan the right hon. Gentleman say when the troops will be leaving?
§ Mr. HACKINGIt is hoped that the whole of the contingent will have reached the Saar before Christmas, with the exception of the Lancers, who, as I have said, will be going as soon as possible after Christmas.