HC Deb 28 June 1939 vol 349 c403
62. Mr. T. Williams

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what were the terms and conditions on which he broadcast from Geneva to America on the Government's White Paper policy for Palestine?

Mr. M. MacDonald

During my recent visit to Geneva I was invited by the National Broadcasting Company of America to talk over the wireless to the United States on the subject of the Government's Palestine policy. Such invitations have on other occasions been accepted by Ministers attending meetings connected with the League of Nations in Geneva, and I gladly agreed to this proposal.

Mr. Williams

Is it not unusual, on a matter about which the House is so keenly divided, for a Minister on an official visit to Geneva to take the opportunity of broadcasting an ex-parte statement to America?

Mr. MacDonald

What I did was entirely according to precedent, and I cannot see any objection to it.

Mr. Williams

In view of the arrangement between all political parties in this country in regard to broadcasting, does the right hon. Gentleman not think that some similar arrangement might have been made in this case?

Mr. MacDonald

That is entirely a matter for the broadcasting authorities in America.

Mr. Leach

How did the right hon. Gentleman excuse his great betrayal?