§ 37. Mr. Hore-Belishaasked the Prime Minister whether he will define the duties which the Minister of State will discharge in the Middle East, in particular, his relations with and his authority over the Commander-in-Chief, His Majesty's Ambassador in Cairo, and other representatives of this country in the Middle East, who now receive their instructions through other Government Departments; and whether the responsibilities of the' Secretaries of State for Foreign Affairs, War, Air, the Colonies, and the Minister of Information, are in any way qualified by the new appointment?
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Churchill)The principal tasks of the Minister of State will be, first, to facilitate the conduct of operations by the Commanders-in-Chief in the Middle East by relieving them, so far as possible, of a number of extraneous responsibilities with which they have hitherto been burdened, and, secondly, to settle promptly matters within the policy of His Majesty's Government but which involve several home departments or local authorities. The appointment of the Minister of State will not interfere with 166 the existing relationships between the Commanders-in-Chief in the Middle East and the Service Ministers, or between His Majesty's Ambassador, Cairo, and other representatives of His Majesty's Government in the Middle East, and the Ministers in this country to whom they are responsible. The Minister of State will make reference home whenever necessary on important issues of policy; but it is to be hoped that the presence of a War Cabinet Minister with wide discretionary powers will smooth, hasten, and concert action in the Middle East between the various authorities in that area.
§ Mr. Hore-BelishaWhile I thank the Prime Minister for his answer, will he say whether the Minister of State has authority over the Commander-in-Chief and His Majesty's Ambassador, or whether it is entirely a matter for consultation in the smoothing-out of difficulties?
§ The Prime MinisterThe Minister of State has authority in matters which are not concerned with the conduct of operations, but that authority is derived from his position as a member of the War Cabinet, and will no doubt be exercised in harmony with that fundamental principle.
§ Sir Irving AlberyWith reference to the power which the Minister of State has to decide priority questions in the matter of military supplies, will not this be contingent on the operational functions of the Commander-in-Chief?
§ The Prime MinisterWe set up some two months ago a new officer in the Middle East, General Sir Robert Haining, to whom I have applied the somewhat rare title of Intendant-General. His business is to serve the Commander-in-Chief with the largest possible measure of supplies in accordance with the wishes of the Commander-in-Chief and the needs of the Army, and also in accordance with the practical business of handling the great mass of supplies arriving from this country and the United States, and the Minister of State will have the benefit of the advice of Sir Robert Haining in anything which may touch this part of his duty. I would say that the kind of relations which I hope to see between the Minister of State and the Intendant-General on the one hand, and the Commander-in-Chief of the Army on the other, are very largely the sort of relations 167 which prevail in the matter of supplies between the War Office and the Ministry of Supply in this country and General Sir Alan Brooke, commanding the Army in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. ThorneWill the Minister of State be armed with plenary powers, or will he be expected to consult with the War Cabinet every now and again?
§ The Prime MinisterYes, Sir. Nobody in this country has plenary powers, except in accordance with the constant supervision of Parliament, exercised through the War Cabinet.
§ Mr. Hore-BelishaDoes the area of the Middle East Command remain exactly the same as it was, including Iraq?
§ The Prime MinisterI am not certain whether it has been announced, but a charge has been made in the responsibilities for the defence of Iraq, which have been transferred to the Indian Command, and will be exercised by General Wavell as Commander-in-Chief in India.
§ Mr. Hore-BelishaDoes the Minister of State control that area?
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir; he does not control any of these areas. He is in the closest touch with the Government of India, and he can communicate with them direct if he wishes, reporting at the same time to us, and I have no doubt that the closest contact will be arranged by him.
§ Mr. ManderWhat will be the relations of the Minister of State with the representatives of the Dominions on the spot? Will he be in close contact and consultation with them?
§ The Prime MinisterYes, Sir, the relations will be of close contact with them and continuous courtesy and good will.