HC Deb 23 January 1945 vol 407 cc627-8
29. Mr. Driberg

asked the Secretary of State for War if the organisation or signature of the circular letters recently distributed to various newspapers, purporting to originate from a number of British soldiers in Greece and condemning the policies of E.A.M, and E.L.A.S. and the speeches of hon. Members of this House, is to be treated as a breach of the A.C.I. which forbids the signature of public petitions, circulars and appeals dealing with political matters; and if he will now reconsider his decision not to withdraw this instruction.

Sir J. Grigg

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. and learned Member for North Hammersmith (Mr. Pritt) on 16th January. The question whether in a particular instance there has been a contravention of King's Regulations is one for determination by the responsible military authority.

Mr. Driberg

If these instances are not contraventions of the instruction, are we to take it that the instruction is only to be applied one-sidedly?

Sir J. Grigg

The hon. Member persists in referring to the instruction as if it were a hard and fast binding regulation. As I have tried to point out on more than one occasion, the instruction is a warning.

Mr. Driberg

It is worded in a very hard-and-fast way.

Sir H. Williams

Am I to assume that my constituents are not debarred by the Army Council Instruction from writing to me or to their relatives on these matters, because many are writing to describe E.L.A.S. in very unfavourable terms?

Mr. Driberg

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that many are also writing of it in very favourable terms?