HC Deb 19 October 1943 vol 392 cc1211-2
53. Captain P. Macdonald

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the specific charges of unfair action and/or bad faith made against the British, in their report to Congress, by five United States Senators who recently visited the fighting areas in Europe and North Africa; and whether, to avoid the diffusion of ill will, he will place on record the British view of the facts?

The Prime Minister

Sir, the Report in question was made to Congress in Secret Session, and I am therefore neither fully nor accurately acquainted with its nature. A summary of ten conclusions reached by the Senators has been printed in the Record of the United States Senate. These conclusions bring no charges of the kind referred to by my hon. and gallant Friend. However, apart from the above, many stories have been published purporting to represent what the individual Senators have said. I am well aware of the pain which some of these unfair and probably unauthorised statements have caused. I have carefully considered whether it is my duty to make a public reply. I have come to the conclusion that there would be no advantage in His Majesty's Government taking part in this wordy warfare, especially at a time when the British and United States Armies are engaged shoulder to shoulder in the battles taking place or impending on the Italian front, and when the Royal Air Force and the United States Eighth Air Force in a perfect brotherhood of arms are making heavy sacrifices in their attacks upon Germany. I have however caused a full statement of the facts to be drawn up and kept here for the purposes of record or, if it should become expedient, for publication.

Mr. Shinwell

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether his decision not to place on record his view of the charges made by the five Senators applies to other Ministers of the Crown who have animadverted on the statement made by these gentlemen?

The Prime Minister

I think that the practice followed by Ministers will probably be governed by the answer I have given.