HC Deb 15 June 1948 vol 452 cc223-4
7. Mr. Osborne

asked the Minister of Labour if the statement in Kansas City on 6th June by Sir Godfrey Ince, Permanent Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Labour, that unless America continued to send aid to Britain we should go bankrupt and there would be a crash, was made on his behalf.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour (Mr. Ness Edwards)

I presume that the hon. Member is referring to a report in "Kansas City Star" of 3rd June of a statement made by Sir Godfrey Ince. I am informed that this statement, which was made in reply to questions, was to the effect that at present we cannot close the dollar gap and if we do not receive Marshall Aid we shall be in "a serious economic plight." This is a statement of fact that has been made many times, and to which I can see no possible objection.

Mr. Osborne

Is not the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the report appeared in "The Times"; and would it not have been better to have given this report at Scarborough and to the T.U.C., instead of sending a man to Kansas City to make a statement in that way?

Mr. Ness Edwards

I should have thought that even the hon. Member would have recognised the statement quoted in "The Times" or the other paper as not being quite Civil Service standard. It is really a very vigorous American interpretation of what was said.

Colonel Gomme-Duncan

Could the Parliamentary Secretary say what this officer was doing in Kansas City?

Mr. Ness Edwards

Certainly. He was on his way to the I.L.O. Conference, which began yesterday.