§ 45. Mr. Manderasked the Prime Minister whether he will give an assurance that the High Command in the Middle East has full authority to take whatever measures appear necessary, however drastic, to occupy Syria at the earliest possible moment and that no restraint on political grounds is being imposed.
§ The Prime MinisterYes, Sir. Not only has the High Command full authority, but I have specially enjoined them to be guided by military considerations alone.
§ Mr. Garro JonesIn the event of unified operations by the Navy, Army and Air Force, has the General Officer Commanding in Chief any jurisdiction to issue orders to the three arms of the Forces?
§ The Prime MinisterAll the relations of the three arms when on service together have for long been the subject of careful study and practice.
§ Mr. Garro JonesHas the Commander in Chief any unified power of command over the Air Force, for example, leaving the Navy out?
§ The Prime MinisterNo, that is not the system that is being followed in any of these combined operations. The Navy is not placed in command of the Army, nor the Army in command of the Navy, nor the Air Force in command 951 of either. An arrangement has been reached which, on the whole, gets over what has always been a recognised difficulty.