HC Deb 14 July 1948 vol 453 cc1180-1
22. Mr. Piratin

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether in view of the burden to the British taxpayer of maintaining the Military Mission in Greece at an average monthly cost of £61,000, and, in view of the existence of 256 American military officers in Greece, as revealed by President Truman's Third Quarterly Report on the Assistance to Greece and Turkey, he will take steps immediately to withdraw the British Military Mission and thus save the tax payers' money.

Mr. Mayhew

No, Sir.

Mr. Piratin

Such a short answer to such a long Question was astonishing, Mr. Speaker. May I ask the Under-Secretary whether he would be kind enough to explain that answer—"No, Sir"—in view of the fact that the American Military Mission of 256 officers is surely duplicating the whole purpose of our Military Mission? Why cannot they come back?

Mr. Mayhew

The work of the one Mission supplements but does not duplicate the work of the other.

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