§ 46. Earl Wintertonasked the Prime Minister whether Ministerial responsibility for the conduct of the war in Burma rests with him as Defence Minister, or with the Defence Minister of the Government of India?
§ Mr. AttleeThe conduct of operations by Imperial Forces in Burma is directed by the Commander-in-Chief, India, who in this regard is responsible to His 26 Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom.
§ 47. Earl Wintertonasked the Prime Minister whether, following the precedent of other campaigns in the present war, an official statement will eventually be issued giving the reasons for defending Burma with a small force of ground troops and aeroplanes, together with an account of the salient features of this campaign?
§ Mr. AttleeA despatch will no doubt be written in due course by the General in command, but whether it will be published during the war cannot yet be decided.
§ Earl WintertonIn view of the fact that the Government have issued a despatch describing the much smaller operations in Madagascar, does he not think it very desirable that this House should be in possession at the earliest possible date of the fullest possible information about this campaign in Burma? Will he give this matter serious consideration?
§ Mr. AttleeObviously, due regard must be had to military considerations, as the Noble Lord knows, in deciding when it is most convenient to issue a despatch, having regard to the military operations still being carried on.
§ Earl WintertonSurely we are going to have some statement or other on the subject? All I ask for is a statement. Are we not to have a statement in the House by the Prime Minister?