§ 42. Mr. Granvilleasked the Prime Minister whether in order to standardise types of tanks, guns, ships and aircraft and to place the production of war weapons under single direction, he will give consideration to setting up an allied war production council, to include representatives of the British Commonwealth and the United States of America; and whether he will invite the United States Government to ask Mr. Wendell Willkie and other eminent American industrial and political leaders to join such a body in order to give their services for an arms drive?
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir. The machinery to co-ordinate the production of war weapons in the British Empire and the United States of America is working smoothly and is being constantly developed. I would not presume to advise the United States Government who should represent them on any joint organisation which may be set up now or in the future as part of that machinery.
§ Mr. GranvilleWill the right hon. Gentleman take into consideration that the 1074 Allied single command was the turning point in the last war, and that the union of British and American production to beat Nazi mechanisation may be the decisive factor in this; and as most experts seem to agree upon this, will not it be better to suggest it for consideration now rather than later?
§ The Prime MinisterI am not at all sure that these very large and discursive topics are well suited for treatment at Question time.