§ 21. Mr. Lipsonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware of the concern caused by his decision to allow Germans to be employed in the Civil Aviation Branch of the Control Commission; and if he will withdraw his consent and so remove a potential threat to world peace.
§ Mr. MayhewIt is not proposed to allow the Germans either to build aircraft or to fly or to gain knowledge of modern developments in aviation, and my right hon. Friend does not agree that the proposal to employ Germans on subordinate duties on civil airfields represents a threat to world peace. My right hon. Friend has, therefore, no intention of withdrawing his consent to the proposals we have put forward.
§ Mr. LipsonIs not the action taken the thin end of the wedge, and, in view of the use the Germans made of civil aviation after the first world war in building up the Luftwaffe, can we have an assurance that all possible care will be taken to prevent it happening again?
§ Mr. MayhewWe are aware of the importance of this matter, and of the factor the hon. Member mentions, but, at the other extreme, to prevent Germans doing such work as clerical and stores work on airfields, is carrying control to ridiculous limits.
§ Air-Commodore HarveyIs the Under-Secretary aware that this is a very dangerous situation, and that if the Germans are allowed to start, it will be the beginning of what happened in the years before the second World War?
§ Mr. MayhewMy reply explains that we are aware of that. As I have said, we are determined that the Germans shall not build or fly aircraft, or gain modern knowledge of aviation.
§ Air-Commodore HarveyThat is not good enough.