§ 33. Mr. Basil Nieldasked the Secretary of State for War if he is satisfied that all proper steps are being taken to ensure the speedy despatch to and from British troops in the Far East and in particular Korea, of mail; and that sufficient mail-carrying aircraft are being employed.
§ Mr. StracheyYes, Sir. I regret that there was some interruption in the flow of air mail homeward from Korea during September, but despatches are now being made twice a week regularly in each direction.
§ Mr. StracheyIt is about a week by air mail.
§ Mr. Walter FletcherWhy is it that registered mail or parcels cannot be sent to the troops overseas, while it can be to civilians?
§ Mr. StracheyI should like to have notice of that question.
§ 36. Mr. Snaddenasked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware of the anxiety caused to relatives of soldiers serving in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in Korea as a result of premature and inaccurate reports released to the Press and the British Broadcasting Corporation by his Department of casualties suffered through accidental bombing by American aircraft; why these reports were allowed to be released; and why five days elapsed before next-of-kin were informed.
§ Mr. StracheyI deeply regret the anxiety caused to these relatives as a 1870 result of premature and inaccurate reports. It is certainly not the case that these reports were released by my Department. They originated from sources over whom my Department has no control. Having regard to the means of communication available, the time taken to inform the next-of-kin could not be shortened. We should bear in mind that units suffering casualties have themselves to compile and despatch their casualty returns and, in this particular case, the company orderly room staff were themselves casualties.
§ Mr. SnaddenIs not the Secretary of State aware that the attack was first announced on 23rd September, that this announcement was repeated on 24th September and the previous report was contradicted; that we were given the actual number of killed and wounded, yet the next-of-kin had not been informed; and could not the right hon. Gentleman's Department have done something to avoid the misery and suffering of the relatives of these men?
§ Mr. StracheyThe greatest danger is to give an inaccurate report of the actual individuals involved and the degree of casualties they have suffered. I think it is better to have some delay than to run the risk of an inaccurate or incorrect report in these matters.
§ Mr. Emrys HughesIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that an inquiry into this incident was promised; has the inquiry been held, and are there to be any courts-martial for murder or manslaughter?
§ Mr. SpeakerThat has nothing to do with this Question.
§ Mr. LowThe right hon. Gentleman referred to communications as if they were unsatisfactory. Ought not his Department to see that his communications on these matters are at least as good as the communications available to the Press?
§ Mr. StracheyThe point that arises is that on this occasion the Press, no doubt through no fault of their own, gave reports which proved to be both premature and inaccurate, as is stated here. We cannot be open to those charges, especially in cases where it matters so desperately to the individuals' next-of-kin.