HC Deb 21 February 1946 vol 419 cc1310-2
Mr. Henderson Stewart

I beg to request permission, Mr. Speaker, to move the Adjournment of the House on a definite matter of urgent public importance, namely, the grave extension of the mutiny among sections of the Royal Indian Navy which are now reported to have seized 24 ships.

The Prime Minister (Mr. Attlee)

I have had no notice that the hon. Member was going to raise this question andI have not, at the present time, any information from the Government of India. The only information I have has come from naval sources, which state that certain vessels of the Royal Navy are proceeding towards Bombay. I am not in a position to give any information today, but I suggest that the House might wait until I get some information, which I will give to them, and then consider whether they would like the matter to be raised.

Mr. Stewart

It was only a short time ago that the news appeared on the tape that 24 vessels had been seized. I apologise for the shortness of the notice, but I could not help it. I do not wish to embarrass the Government, or to make the position more serious, but perhaps the right hon. Gentleman will undertake that if he receives news tonight he will interrupt the proceedings today, in order to give it, or will make a statement at the beginning of our proceedings tomorrow?

Mr. Attlee

I have telegraphed urgently to India constantly, but I have not had any reply yet. I do not know whether I shall get one today. I hope by the opening of the House tomorrow to make as full a statement as I can.

Mr. Charles Williams

May I ask for your guidance, Mr. Speaker? I think this matter is recognised as urgent today, out if because of the present position it cannot be raised until tomorrow, will the position of my hon. Friend the Member for East Fife (Mr. Stewart), as regards urgency, be safeguarded?

Mr. Speaker

The rules are that on a Friday one cannot move the Adjournment of the House on a matter of urgent importance, although if the Prime Minister makes a statement no doubt the House would wish to see that some time for discussion was safeguarded.

Brigadier Head

Is it not a fact that the Royal Indian Navy is largely employed on manning landing craft, and that this so-called event may possibly concern only 24 small landing craft, and might not be so important as the House has been led to suppose?

Captain Marsden

Will the Prime Minister give the House the earliest possible information, because information is being freely bandied about in London to the effect that this event concerns seagoing ships, and not small landing craft, and that Royal Indian Marines opened fire against other ships? Perhaps the right hon. Gentleman will say whether that is true or not?

The Prime Minister

I have explained to the House that I have not full information on this matter. I understand there has been some firing, I am not certain what the craft are, but the Royal Indian Navy is not under the command of the Admiralty. It comes under the Commander-in-Chief in India, and the Admiral acting under him. It is not primarily concerned with the First Lord of the Admiralty.

Mr. Stewart

In the circumstances, therefore, I beg leave to withdraw my request, on the understanding that if the right hon. Gentleman obtains information today on this grave matter he will communicate it to the House.

The First Lord of the Admiralty (Mr.A. V. Alexander)

My light hon. Friend has already said he would do so.