§ 9. Sir Richard Aclandasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement on the political situation in Belgium, with particular reference to any action taken by Allied troops in relation to it.
§ 15. Mr. Boothbyasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will give an assurance that the action of His Majesty's Government in maintaining the present Belgian Government in office is dictated solely by military considerations.
§ Mr. EdenI would refer to the full statement which I made on Belgian affairs in the course of the Debate on 1st December. I am, however, glad to have this opportunity to add that any action taken by Allied troops in Belgium is carried out on the instructions of the Supreme Commander Allied Expeditionary Force, who, while Belgium remains a zone of military operations, must be free to take whatever action he deems necessary for the maintenance of order and the prevention of disturbances in territory which still lies immediately behind the front line and through which his communications pass.
§ Captain Cunningham-ReidAre the Americans in complete agreement with that policy?