HC Deb 26 January 1949 vol 460 cc895-900
7. Mr. Austin

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he will give details in full of all material information, including photographs, which have been handed over to Egyptian Air Force Command following on R.A.F. reconnaissance; and under what authority this action was taken.

8. Mr. Platts-Mills

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many of the photographs taken in high and low level reconnaissance flights over the areas in which Israeli and Egyptian forces have been in conflict have been supplied to the Egyptian authorities.

Mr. A. Henderson

No material information or photographs obtained from either high or low level reconnaissance flights were handed over to the Egyptian authorities. I am informed, however, that on occasion photographic information was discussed with Egyptian officers because of the difficulty of obtaining positive identification of Jewish ground forces in Egyptian territory.

Mr. Platts-Mills

As it is obvious from the Minister's answer that this photography was an act of intervention in the war—not, of course, the fault of the Minister, but set on deliberately by the Foreign Secretary—[HON. MEMBERS: "Order."]—and in view of the degree of anger now created by this reckless imperilling of human life, will the Minister use his influence to persuade the Foreign Secretary to cause our forces to be withdrawn from the danger area?

Mr. Henderson

The latter part of the question, I think, might be put to my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary himself, but I would like to make it quite clear that I cannot accept any suggestion that there has been any intervention on the part of His Majesty's Government. Indeed, I said in the latter part of my reply that this information only related to the possible presence of Jewish forces in Egyptian territory and not to the positions of Jewish forces in Jewish territory.

Mr. Austin

As the discussions referred to by my right hon. and learned Friend, relating to certain identifications, may, according to the opinion of certain authorities, constitute an infringement of neutrality in some respects, will he give an assurance that such reconnaissance flights are no longer intended?

Mr. Henderson

No, Sir. I cannot give any guarantee as to the future, but what I can say is that we are not continuing such flights under present arrangements.

10. Mr. Platts-Mills

asked the Secretary of State for Air what notice was given to the Jewish authorities of the intention to carry out the 20 high-level reconnaissance flights made over Palestine in the last two months and of the routes proposed to be taken on these flights.

Mr. A. Henderon

No notice was given to the Jewish authorities.

Mr. Sydney Silverman

Has the attention of my right hon. and learned Friend been drawn to the denial by the United Nations Mediator of the statement on this subject which he made last week that these reconnaissance flights were carried out with the knowledge of the United Nations Mediator?

Mr. Henderson

Yes, Sir, and I should like to make it clear that the consultations referred to regarding these flights took place with Count Bernadotte and not with Dr. Bunche, the Acting Mediator.

Mr. Low

Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman make it clear whether these 20 high-level reconnaissance flights took place within the last two months—since the Mosquito was shot down—or whether they referred to something that happened earlier?

Mr. Henderson

They covered a period of November and December and overlapped the incident to which the hon. Gentleman refers.

11. Mr. Blackburn

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he will now state whether the R.A.F. Court of Inquiry convened to inquire into the circumstances in which 3051236 Pilot Officer David Crossley Tattersfield lost his life will be open to the public; and whether facilities will be given to the parents of Pilot Officer Tattersfield to be represented.

Mr. A. Henderson

It would not be in accordance with practice for such a Court of Inquiry to be held in public. As regards the second part of the question, the head of the Royal Air Force legal branch in the Middle East Command will be attending the Court, and he will watch the interests of the next-of-kin.

Mr. Blackburn

May I ask the Secretary of State whether he does not feel that this is a very special case? Will he bear in mind the fact that conflicting statements have been made about this particular subject, and, while he may stick to this principle that the inquiry may not be held in public, will he see that a very full summary of the evidence and of the findings of the court is published? Will he also see that the interests of the next-of-kin are properly protected by somebody who will look after them?

Mr. Henderson

In regard to the second part of the question, I can say that the answer is in the affirmative. Regarding the first part, I would rather wait until I have seen the report, but I am prepared to give an undertaking that a full summary of both the evidence and the findings will be published.

Mr. William Teeling

Am I to understand that this inquiry concerns only Pilot Officer Tattersfield, and, if so, why is it not to include the son of my constituent—Pilot Officer Sayers. who was also killed?

Mr. Henderson

The court of inquiry itself will cover a number of cases; and, as regards the arrangements for this senior officer to represent the next-of-kin, he would certainly include the next-of-kin of all those who were casualties.

Mr. Teeling

But is the Minister aware that the father of Pilot Officer Sayers has been quite unable within the last few weeks to obtain any information whatever about the death of his son, and is not that a case for this inquiry?

Mr. Henderson

No, Sir. I am surprised that that should be the case, and if the hon. Gentleman will give me the particulars I will look into the matter at once.

Mr. Blackburn

Will the Minister ask the court to inquire especially into one fact—whether the allegations made by Pilot Officer Close, which have received such widespread publicity throughout the world, are true or not, because I do not believe they are true, nor do the parents, and it is most important that the people should know the truth?

Mr. Henderson

I can say that the terms of reference will certainly cover that point.

12. Mr. Austin

asked the Secretary of State for Air what reconnaissance operations by the R.A.F. are taking place in conjunction with, or at the request of Transjordan forces.

Mr. A. Henderson

None, Sir.

Mr. Janner

Can my right hon. and learned Friend say whether, in view of the decision of the Security Council, there will be any flights over Transjordan?

Mr. Henderson

I can only say, in reply to this Question, that the answer is "None, Sir."

13. Mr. Austin

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he will make a statement giving full details of dates, areas, etc., in which R.A.F. and Egyptian aircraft have partaken in joint formation flights, since the ending of the Palestine Mandate.

Mr. A. Henderson

Egyptian aircraft accompanied R.A.F. aircraft on the two reconnaissances carried out on 30th December, 1948, referred to in my statement on 19th January. No other flights with the Egyptian Air Force have taken place.

Mr. S. Silverman

If these aeroplanes of ours were taking part in flights accompanied by Egyptian aircraft, is my right hon. and learned Friend surprised that people on the other side regarded them as belligerents?

Mr. Henderson

No, Sir. In view of the fact that R.A.F. aircraft were flying over Egyptian territory with aircraft belonging to the Government of that territory, I can see no justification for that assumption.

Mr. Janner

Can the Minister say whether there was a reconnaissance flight on 7th January, whether any Egyptian planes accompanied our aircraft on that flight, and why, after there was an agreement between the Egyptian and Israeli forces for a cease-fire, the flight was allowed on that date?

Mr. Henderson

The answer to the first part of the question is that no Egyptian aircraft accompanied R.A.F. aircraft on the reconnaissance flight that took place on 7th January. As regards the second part, I have been informed by the Commander-in-Chief that he was not aware of the proposed truce until 8th January.

Mr. Platts-Mills

Can the Minister say what was the object of our aircraft flying in company with Egyptian planes at all; and may I assist him to answer by suggesting that the real reason was to give cover to the Egyptians while they took hostile action?

Mr. Henderson

I see no reason at all to object to the joint flight that took place late in December between aircraft of the R.A.F. and Egyptian aircraft, and, indeed, if the position had been reversed and we had had our planes based on Jewish territory, I can see no objection to them flying with Jewish aircraft over Jewish territory.

Mr. Gallacher

Will the Minister tell the House in what direction these planes were flying? Was it in the direction of Israeli territory? Will he say whether the Israeli authorities were supposed to wait until they came over Israeli territory before they took action?

Mr. Henderson

It is not for me to say what the Jewish authorities were supposed to do. All I can say is that the various tactical reconnaissances took place over Egyptian territory, not Jewish territory.

Mr. R. A. Butler

In view of the right hon. and learned Gentleman's answer that the Air-Officer Commanding-in-Chief was not aware of the truce, can we have any statement from His Majesty's Government whether a signal was sent from this country indicating that a truce had taken place and so informing the Air Officer Commanding?

Mr. Henderson

I think we may take it that no signal was sent in view of the fact that the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief has informed me that he was not aware of the truce.

Mr. Butler

Does not the right hon. and learned Gentleman regard it as his duty to keep closer contact with Air Officers Commanding on the spot?

Mr. Henderson

I had no official information myself on the 7th that the truce was to take place.

Mr. S. Silverman

In view of my right hon. and learned Friend's somewhat original notion of tactics, will he undertake that if ever this country is attacked by hostile aircraft the Royal Air Force will not be expected to wait until they arrive over our territory.

Mr. Speaker

That is a purely hypothetical question.

Mr. Janner

Arising out of the reply which has been given about this lack of knowledge of the cease-fire, will my right hon. and learned Friend say whether any intimation was given at any time from his Department or from any other Department when a settlement was made which necessitated the stopping of any aggressive action?