§ 34. Professor Savoryasked the Secretary of State for Air whether instead of bombing the island of Heligoland with live bombs, he will use practice bombs, or alternatively, use a target out at sea, 1202 or at least some tidal estuary on the mainland of Germany.
§ Mr. A. HendersonNo, Sir. Training with live bombs is an essential part of bomber training. The reasons why Heligoland is the only suitable place for bomber training were given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in his statement of 29th June, 1949.
§ Professor SavoryMay I appeal to the right hon. and learned Gentleman to give further consideration to this suggestion, which has been made by a very experienced expert who himself has done this bombing and knows what he is talking about?
§ Mr. HendersonI also have the advantage of very able experts on this matter, and they take a different view.
§ Mr. SorensenIs it the policy of the Air Ministry to go on bombing this island until it does not exist, or at least becomes quite uninhabitable for centuries?
§ Mr. HendersonAs I have already told the House, as a result of the 5,000 tons of bombs that were dropped on the island during the war the island is now largely a mass of rubble. As regards the first part of my hon. Friend's supplementary question, I am certainly not in a position to say for how long we shall continue to use this island for bombing purposes.
§ General Sir George JeffreysWill the right hon. and learned Gentleman bear in mind that until comparatively recent times Heligoland was British territory and its inhabitants British subjects? Does that not constitute some reason for treating it as something a little better than a bombing range?
§ Mr. HendersonIf we are to delve into history perhaps I might remind the hon. and gallant Gentleman that during two world wars Heligoland was a base for very offensive operations against this country.
§ 35. Professor Savoryasked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that further bombing of the island of Heligoland took place on Monday, 8th May, at a time when 20 Heligoland fishermen were taking refuge in the harbour from the severe storm then raging; and whether he will ask for a report as to how 1203 many of the fishermen and boats were injured.
§ Mr. A. HendersonI have made inquiries, and I am informed that there was no bombing of Heligoland on 8th May.
§ Professor SavoryWill the right hon. and learned Gentleman allow me to send him two German papers with full accounts of the bombing, showing that at least three of these fishing boats were damaged on this occasion? These are telegrams from Cuxhaven, published in these two German papers.
§ Mr. HendersonI shall be delighted to receive any information the hon. Gentleman may send me, but I may say that no bombing has taken place at Heligoland since 3rd May.