§ 28. Mr. Gallacherasked the Secretary of State for War what steps were taken to prevent the national and local Press reporting fully a speech made recently to the Oxford University Officers Training Corps by the Deputy Chief of the Imperial General Staff, wherein he had said that the difficulties of Imperial Defence had been increased by the policy of His Majesty's Government in Spain?
§ The Financial Secretary to the War Office (Sir Victor Warrender)The lecture was confidential, and representatives of the Press were not present. It came to notice, however, that reports were in circulation, and editors of newspapers were, therefore, requested, in the public interest, to refrain from making any reference to the matter. The Deputy Chief of the Imperial General Staff did not make the statement which the hon. Member attributes to him.
§ Mr. GallacherWill the hon. Member be good enough to circulate to Members of this House a report of the speech made by the Deputy Chief of the Imperial General Staff so that we can judge whether he criticised the policy of the Government or not?
§ Sir V. WarrenderNo, Sir. There is no necessity for that, because, as I have pointed out, no report of the speech was made.
§ Mr. GallacherIs it not the case that a report was made, and that those who took the report were asked not to publish it. In view of the fact that publication was prohibited, cannot we have the speech circulated to hon. Members of this House?
§ Sir V. WarrenderThere was no prohibition. It was agreed with the University 186 authorities that no notes and no reports of the speech or lecture should be taken, and in those circumstances no report was made.
§ Mr. MaxtonHas the Minister a report of the speech?
§ Sir V. WarrenderNo, but I have spoken to the Deputy Chief of the General Staff, and I am quite satisfied that nothing of the kind alleged in the question was said.