§ 48. Mr. Douglas Marshallasked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster the percentage of naval officers in the Control Commission of Germany as compared with the Army and the R.A.F.
§ The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Mr. John Hynd)Under 1 per cent. of the serving officers on the strength of the Control Commission for Germany are naval officers. The corresponding figures for the Army and R.A.F., including officers of the Women's Services, are 95 per cent. and about 4.5 per cent. respectively.
§ Mr. MarshallIs the Minister satisfied with these figures? I stress that he should consider raising the number of naval officers so that Germany will note the importance of British sea power.
§ Mr. HyndI am afraid the pressure at the moment is all in the direction of reducing the staff to the minimum necessary.
Viscount HinchinģbrookeWill the Minister make representations to the First Lord of the Admiralty to the effect that the Navy should, as a matter of policy, take a greater share in the administration of Germany, certainly in the areas round the ports, where I understand they have a minimum of responsibility at present?
§ Mr. HyndThe staffing of the Control Commission in Germany must not be dependent upon matters of prestige, or other factors of that kind, but must be dependent upon practical considerations. The fact is that the naval side of the administration is very small in proportion to the other side.