HC Deb 30 April 1941 vol 371 cc410-2
5. Mr. Cocks

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information regarding the increase in the number of Nazi agents and the spread of Nazi influence in Tangier, Spanish Morocco and French Morocco, and other French territory in North-west Africa, and of Nazi propaganda amongst the Arabs directed against the Sultan of Morocco?

4. Mr. Martin

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any further information to give the House as to the numbers of personnel and extent of material belonging to the German Army which are now in, or have recently been in, French or Spanish North Africa?

Mr. Eden

According to my latest information the numbers of the German Armistice Commission in French Morocco are being increased to about 200. No authoritative figures are available about the position in the Spanish zone and in Tangier, but there is evidence of the recent entry of a number of German nationals and of a continuation of German propaganda. His Majesty's Government have for some time past been fully alive to the dangers of German infiltration in North Africa and have tried to open the eyes of the French Government to the danger which this presents to them.

Mr. Cocks

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that one place where definite counter influence was possible was Tangier and that there, unfortunately, we had to abdicate and surrender?

Mr. Shinwell

When the Foreign Secretary said the Government have endeavoured to open the eyes of the French Government, can he say whether anything has been done to open the eyes of the Spanish Government or to influence their decision in this matter?

Mr. Eden

I was speaking of the French zone.

Mr. Shinwell

Spanish Morocco was referred to in this Question. Has the Minister anything to say about Nazi intentions there?

Mr. Eden

I would rather confine my answer, if I may, as I deliberately did.

Mr. Maxton

Has the Foreign Secretary no means of getting precise information except in that one area?

Mr. Eden

I did not say that. I said we had information, and I gave it to the House.

Mr. Maxton

The right hon. Gentleman gave information about only one part. If I heard him correctly, he said that there were 200 in one area but that about other areas he knew nothing.

Mr. Eden

No, Sir. I said that for other areas I had no figures, but that my information was similar.

16. Lieut.-Colonel Sir Thomas Moore

asked the Minister of Information what steps are being taken by the British Broadcasting Corporation to make Germany's manoeuvres, as endorsed by Admiral Darlan and his Vichy supporters, known both to France and to Morocco, and especially the latter?

The Minister of Information (Mr. Duff Cooper)

The seven French news bulletins broadcast daily by the B.B.C. are audible in Africa, and two go out on a wavelength specially suitable for North Africa. A half-hour programme, "Les Francais parlent aux Francais," which is broadcast every night, regularly contains items on the necessity of resisting German encroachments in the French colonies, while frequent opportunity is taken to point out that Admiral Darlan's policy of collaboration with Germany, if carried out, will delay the hour of France's freedom.

Captain Plugge

Is it not a fact that the transmissions intended for Morocco are on short waves and that we have scuttled our only long wave, and that short-wave transmission is not broadcasting in the true sense of the word?

Mr. Cooper

My hon. and gallant Friend is aware of the reasons why we do not use long-wave transmissions at the present time, and I cannot see any prospect of those reasons ceasing to exist.

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