§ 48. Mr. Somerset de Chairasked the Minister of Defence whether he will represent to the next meeting of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Defence Council the desirability of distributing the offices of Supreme Commander of the three Services in such a way as to reflect the contribution of the Allied effort on both sides of the Atlantic; and, in view of the appointments already announced, whether he will advance the claims of a high-ranking officer in the Royal Air Force to the office of Supreme Commander of the Air Forces of the Atlantic Pact countries in Europe in the event of war.
§ Mr. ShinwellWe shall, of course, bear in mind the points to which the hon. Member refers. He will, however, realise 434 that the governing consideration in all these appointments, including Air Force appointments, must continue to be the determination of all concerned to pick the men whose appointments can best serve the interests of the North Atlantic Powers as a whole.
§ Mr. de ChairDoes not the right hon. Gentleman realise that the Prime Minister stated that an American admiral had been agreed in principle, and that it was, therefore, not a question of individual calibre? Will he impress on his American colleague on the Council that the United States really cannot expect to have it three ways? Will he bear in mind that, if the Royal Air Force had been under the control of a non-British supreme commander in 1940, it is very likely that our Metropolitan squadrons would have been drawn into the Battle of France and would not have been available for the subsequent Battle of Britain?
§ Mr. ShinwellI imagine that those observations could better be dealt with in the course of debate.
§ 49. Mr. Emrys Hughesasked the Minister of Defence what discussions have taken place about the salary of the Supreme Naval Commander: and if he will make an announcement.
§ Mr. ShinwellThe present practice is for any officer holding an appointment under the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation to be paid by his own Government.
§ Mr. HughesCan my right hon. Friend say what notice is required to terminate the appointment?
§ Mr. ShinwellI do not see anything in the Question about that.
§ Mr. ChurchillIs it not the case that when Marshal Foch was appointed to the supreme command in the First World War the British Government insisted on paying a share of his salary?
§ Mr. ShinwellI do not question the right hon. Gentleman's historical facts, but the position at present is that the salary is paid by the Government of whichever person is appointed. There may, of course, be some change in this arrangement, but at present there is no intention of making a change.
§ 50. Captain Ryderasked the Minister of Defence what naval representation this country has on the Standing Group of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.
§ Mr. ShinwellAs the United Kingdom member of the Standing Group and as Chairman of the British Joint Services Mission in Washington, Marshal of the Royal Air Force Lord Tedder represents all three British Chiefs of Staff.
§ Captain RyderDoes not this mean that the Royal Navy is represented only in a subordinate capacity? Is it not a fact that the Standing Group is composed of one soldier and two airmen, and is not this the Group which will have the strategical control of the naval Forces in the Atlantic? Is not that an odd arrangement?
§ Mr. ShinwellThe hon. and gallant Gentleman has it all wrong. Lord Tedder is our representative on the Standing Group as the head of the British Joint Services Mission in Washington—
§ Mr. ChurchillHe is an airman.
§ Mr. ShinwellOf course he is an airman. I thought it was well known that Lord Tedder was an airman. The right hon. Gentleman's contribution is superfluous. Lord Tedder represents the three Services. There can be no question of the naval contribution being subordinate. As representing the three Services, Lord Tedder has to concern himself with the interests of the Admiralty as he does with the interests of the Air Ministry and the War Office.
§ Captain RyderWill this appointment always go to an airman, or will the holder sometimes be an admiral.
§ Mr. ShinwellIt is true that it is proposed to replace Lord Tedder, who is an airman, with another airman, but it does not follow that we shall always appoint an airman.
§ Mr. SnowAre we to understand from my right hon. Friend's reply that the First Sea Lord is satisfied with the naval representation here, as in other places?
§ Mr. ShinwellI have seen some observation to that effect, but it has nothing to do with the Question.
Air Commodore HarveyDid not the right hon. Gentleman say the other day 436 that the Royal Air Force was now the primary military Force?
§ Mr. ShinwellYes, Sir. I should have thought that if anybody would be satisfied with what I said it would be the hon. and gallant Gentleman the Member for Macclesfield (Air Commodore Harvey).