§ 6. Mr. Zilliacusasked the Secretary of State for War on what authority his Department, through its usual publicity channel, informed a U.S. news agency, at the end of October, that British Empire and U.S. political and military chiefs had agreed in principle to standardise land, air and naval weapons and munitions to U.S. sizes and patterns and that the Defence Minister designate would give the decision practical effect as soon as he took office.
§ Mr. BellengerMy hon. Friend is misinformed. My Department issued no such statement.
§ Mr. ZilliacusIs my right hon. Friend aware that the Associated Press on 30th October sent a series of despatches to the United States containing this and much other information, and informed the editor that they had received it from the Public Relations Officer of the War Office?
§ Mr. BellengerNo, Sir. That is not my information. I understand that the Associated Press cabled the story to the United States of America as from authoritative British military sources. That is certainly not the War Office.
§ Mr. KeelingCan the Minister say whether anybody but an enemy of these two Empires would gain from a refusal to standardise?
§ Mr. ZilliacusThe Associated Press informed their editor—
§ Mr. KirkwoodOrder You are a lot of yahoos!
§ Mr. BellengerIt the Associated Press informed the editor in the sense mentioned by my hon. Friend, it is entirely incorrect.
§ Mr. OsborneWill the right hon. Gentleman make it clear to the American people that the bulk of the people in this country are delighted if the arrangements have been made?