HC Deb 27 January 1943 vol 386 cc497-8
49. Mr. Ammon

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to broadcast requests from the United States of America for fuller information as to U-boat attacks on Allied shipping; and whether he will arrange for a further statement to be made in an open session of Parliament that the public and our Allies may be more fully informed?

Mr. Attlee

I am aware that there is a general desire on both sides of the Atlantic, not excluding the German Reich, for more precise information on this subject. It would not be in the interests of the United Nations to accede to the request contained in the second part of my hon. Friend's Question.

Mr. Ammon

Does not my right hon. Friend realise that utterances by the First Lord of the Admiralty, have given rise to considerable disquiet, and surely all this must be known to the Germans? Cannot he arrange not only for a statement but for a discussion of the matter in the House?

Sir A. Southby

Is it not about time that the people of this country were fully informed of the peril in which they stand, since the U-boat menace is the greatest danger at the present time?

Mr. Attlee

I think that intelligent people in this country are fully aware that the question of our sea communications and attacks on them is a matter of vital importance, but obviously it is quite impossible to give in public the details of our ways of coping with those attacks.

Mr. Maxton

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that during the last weeks American and Canadian spokesmen have been giving definite facts and figures on this matter which seem to me to be telling the Germans as much as they would be told by statements here? Can we not have the same type of information as is given freely in the United States and in Canada?

Mr. Attlee

I am not aware of that.

Mr. Ammon

Has not the First Lord called attention to the fact that he has not all the necessary power in the Fleet Air Arm to meet this sort of thing? Cannot we discuss that matter?

Mr. Stokes

I have been telling the Government that for years.