HC Deb 27 April 1948 vol 450 cc199-203
37. Colonel Gomme-Duncan

asked the Secretary of State for War what political direction has been given by his Department to the Commander-in-Chief in Palestine relating to defence of military stations and camps and also to retaliatory action by the Army after attack.

Mr. Shinwell

On the political aspect of his task the General Officer Commanding in Palestine relies on advice from the High Commissioner and no political direction has been given to him from my Department. The closest and most cordial co-operation exists between the Civil Government and the Service authorities, who are fully free to take whatever action they think militarily desirable both to protect themselves and to carry out their functions. The Civil Government has throughout afforded all the assistance in its power to the Military authorities in carrying out their difficult duties.

Colonel Gomme-Duncan

Does the right hon. Gentleman recall that he said he had full confidence that the commanders on the spot were as efficient as their critics—a statement with which we quite agree? Yet the normal military steps for protection are not being taken. Can he say what the reason is? If these men are as efficient as we believe, who is stopping them doing their job?

Mr. Shinwell

Nobody is stopping them doing their job, and in all the circum stances they are doing it very well indeed.

Mr. A. R. W. Low

Does the right hon. Gentleman recall that he told us last week that it was a good thing that commanders on the spot should be under some restraint —I think he used words to that effect—and the House therefore assumed that they were under some restraint? Will he clarify the position?

Mr. Shinwell

Nothing requires clarification to anybody who is intelligent enough to understand. The fact is that there are no inhibitions, but obviously, in a very difficult and critical situation in Palestine, our people on the spot exercise due restraint.

Mr. Gallacher

Has my right hon. Friend given any political direction to the Commander-in-Chief in Palestine regarding the entry of the puppet Government of Transjordan into Palestine?

Mr. Shinwell

It is not my function to give any political directions to the Commander-in-Chief. We leave the matter in the hands of the High Commissioner.

Mr. Oliver Stanley

In view of the fact that no one would expect the right hon. Gentleman to remember today what he said last week, will he refresh his mind by looking at HANSARD, where he will see that he said it was lucky that in fact some political restraint was exercised over the troops in Palestine?

Mr. Shinwell

Of course, it is always desirable to exercise restraint, and if the right hon. Gentleman were to take a leaf out of the book of our military commanders on the spot it would do him a lot of good.

Earl Winterton

Does the right hon. Gentleman recollect that in reply to a supplementary question which I put last week he said that he had sent a directive to the military commanders to the effect that they could take any action which they thought fit without reference to the High Commissioner in order to protect British camps and troops in transit? In view of the obvious difficulty of understanding what the actual situation is will the right hon. Gentleman either re-state it now or publish some statement on the subject?

Mr. Shinwell

The position is very simple. The military commanders on the spot are fully entitled to take what action they think fit in the circumstances which face them.

Major Haughton

What directions, it any, have been given in the case of the attacks upon British banks and commercial establishments in Jerusalem and other cities?

Mr. Shinwell

It must be obvious to every hon. Member that it is quite impossible to give directions to military commanders even if it were desirable, which it is not, after the event has occurred.

Major Tufton Beamish

It is perfectly clear now that no general restraint is imposed by the War Office on our military forces in Palestine when they are acting in a military capacity?

Mr. Shinwell

No restraint is imposed by us, but we expect the people on the spot to act in accordance with the circumstances, and that obviously imposes a self-restraint.

38. Colonel Gomme-Duncan

asked the Secretary of State for War how many armoured and other military vehicles have been stolen by terrorists in Palestine during the past year; and how many have been recovered within that period.

Mr. Shinwell

The information necessary to answer the hon. and gallant Member's Question is not available in the War Office. I have, however, called for a report from the military authorities in Palestine and will write to the hon. and gallant Member when I have received it.

Colonel Gomme-Duncan

In view of the fact that if a vehicle is lost by a unit the commanding officer has to indent for another and that that indent eventually goes to the War Office, how is it possible that the War Office do not know the number of vehicles which have been stolen?

Mr. Shinwell

When a military vehicle is lost for one reason or another in Palestine, an indent is not immediately made on the War Office but on Middle East Command, and we do not always ask the Command to report these detailed matters to us. However, if the hon. and gallant Gentleman wants the information, I will try to get it for him.

Mr. Erroll

Is the central census of vehicles no longer maintained in this country?

Mr. Shinwell

That is quite a different matter.

39. Colonel Gomme-Duncan

asked the Secretary of State for War how much ammunition was stolen from the train blown up by Jewish terrorists near Benyamina on Saturday, 17th April; and how much of this has been recovered.

Mr. Shinwell

I have not yet received precise information, but according to a preliminary estimate some 50 tons of ammunition were missing after the blowing up of the train.

Colonel Gomme-Duncan

This is a most astonishing statement. Is there any report on how this great lorry convoy took this ammunition away, were any steps taken to regain any of it, and, if so, could not they have regained the lot, or are they going to let the, terrorists have it?

Mr. Shinwell

I shall be only too pleased to answer those questions, if the information is available and if the hon. and gallant Gentleman will put down Questions. All he asked me was how much ammunition was stolen and how much has been recovered, and I tried to answer his Question.

Earl Winterton

In view of the really dangerous situation in Palestine and the fact that an enormous amount of ammunition has been lost, as well as British lives, surely the right hon. Gentleman will realise that this is intended to be a friendly question, and that there is a need for keeping the House fully informed? [Laughter.] It is not a laughing matter. The loss of British lives is serious. Surely both sides of the House want to be kept informed of the situation?

Mr. Shinwell

I fully appreciate the noble Lord's friendliness, and I do not complain about the Questions put. These are very important matters, and I do my best to answer them in accordance with the information furnished to me. If hon. Members put Questions down, I will continue to answer them.

Major Beamish

Why is no precise information available? This extremely serious incident took place, did it not, more than 10 days ago? Is it not about time that the right hon. Gentleman came to this House properly briefed? For the third week in succession he has not given adequate answers.

Mr. Stokes

Before answering that Question, is it possible for my right hon. Friend to say how much of the ammunition went up when the blowing up took place?

Mr. Shinwell

I am afraid that supplementary question is beyond me, but in reply to the hon. and gallant Member for Lewes (Major Beamish), I give to the House, in reply to Questions, all the information in my possession, but we cannot expect the Commander-in-Chief in Palestine and those subordinate to him, in the present critical and difficult situation, to furnish all these precise details.