§ 21. Mr. Ammonasked the Home Secretary whether he will make a full statement of the reasons for the evacuation of the Channel Islands without resistance, whereby the inhabitants were left to the mercy of the invaders?
§ Sir J. AndersonThe reasons were, as already stated, of a purely military character. The decision was taken by the Government in accordance with the advice of the responsible Service authorities.
§ 31. Mr. Ammonasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that the Governor of the Channel Islands was withdrawn on 21st June; that the Channel Islanders who registered for evacuation on 20th June were unable to leave owing to lack of transport; that telephonic communications between the islands and this country were operating on the evening of 29th June; that invasion took place on 30th June and on the morning of 1st July the manifesto of the German command was published in the island Press; and why, with so long notice, better arrangements for evacuation were not made?
§ Sir J. AndersonMy hon. Friend's suggestion that the Government had long notice of the date on which the enemy would take action is, of course, unfounded. The arrangements for evacuation had to be made in haste and without foreknowledge of the enemy's intentions. 973 I have no information to confirm his statement that some of those who registered for evacuation were unable to get transport; and I know that from Jersey the number of people who came away was less than the number for whom transport was made available.
§ Mr. AmmonHas not the right hon. Gentleman received the information that I sent him setting out the date, which showed that there was plenty of time?
§ Sir J. AndersonI think the hon. Gentleman is entirely mistaken. As I told him before, the first enemy attack was made on 28th June. It is perfectly true that actual occupation of the islands did not take place until two days later, but to arrange for evacuation in the intervening period might have put at great peril those for whom transport was being arranged.
§ Sir Robert YoungIs there any truth in the statement that local officials in these islands tried to prevent or dissuade people from leaving?
§ Sir J. AndersonI do not think I can give a categorical reply to that question. There were undoubtedly discussions between the responsible officials in the islands and the people, but what the exact course of those discussions was I cannot say.
Mr. AmmanDid not the right hon. Gentleman receive a copy, which I sent to him, of the official publication which was issued by the Bailiff of the islands intimating that there would be official evacuation?
§ Sir J. AndersonI have been looking out for such a communication, but it has not reached my hands.
§ Mr. AmmonI am surprised at that. I give notice that I will raise this matter at the earliest opportunity, because I sent to the right hon. Gentleman all the information I had, and he has had it some days.
§ Sir J. AndersonIt has not actually reached my hands.
§ Mr. AmmonIs this an indication of what is happening in Government Departments? I sent it to the right hon. Gentleman last Thursday. I went to another Department on a similar matter after I had given a fortnight's notice, 974 and they produced a letter then which the Minister had never had. That is what happens.
§ At the end of Questions—
§ Mr. AmmonOn a point of Order, Mr. Speaker. What protection is there for a Member of this House when he is flatly contradicted by a statement by a Minister? We heard recently that the Home Secretary said he had not received a statement from me, but two minutes after that I had a letter from him stating that the statement was received on 18th July.
§ Sir J. AndersonWhat I told the hon. Gentleman was perfectly correct. I said it had not come into my hands. It may have reached my office.