§ 45. Mr. William Teelingasked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the fact that a large number of members of His Majesty's Forces who were serving abroad on VE-Day and also on VJ-Day are still serving abroad, he will postpone the Victory Day celebrations and holidays until more of these men have come home.
The Prime Minister (Mr. Attlce)It is our full intention that the members of His Majesty's Forces who participatein the parade shall be, as far as possible, men and women who served abroad during the war. Large numbers of such men and women are now either civilians or on the home establishment, but it is intended to draw on overseas commands to ensure that all regiments and corps are properly represented in the march itself by those who were in battle.
§ Mr. TeelingDoes the right hon. Gentleman realise the growing unpopularity of the idea of having peace celebrations in June, and that there will still be vast numbers of our troops abroad who will have taken no part in that celebration and who would like to have a chance of doing so? Could he not postpone the celebrations until a more appropriate time?
§ The Prime MinisterThe hon. Gentleman will realise the difficulty that if it is postponed too long everyone will have become a civilian. The time for the celebrations follows very much on what was done after the 1914–18 war. As 1683 regards unpopularity, I find that there are two opinions, and I do not know that the hon. Member is in the majority.