HC Deb 03 December 1952 vol 508 cc1562-4
46. Mr. Wyatt

asked the Prime Minister whether he can now make a statement as to the appointment of a supreme commander in the Mediterranean.

The Prime Minister

I cannot at present add anything to the reply which I gave to the right hon. Member for Easington (Mr. Shinwell) on 14th May. Discussions are proceeding over a wide sphere with much amity.

Mr. Wyatt

Does the Prime Minister really mean to say that no progress has been made since he said last May that staff talks were urgently proceeding on this matter and a solution was expected very shortly, and does this mean that he has abandoned the fairly strong views which he once had about the sharing of commands between ourselves and our American allies?

The Prime Minister

None of these assumptions is even remotely founded on fact.

Mr. Shinwell

Does the Prime Minister seriously suggest to the House that after six months—[An HON. MEMBER: "Seven."]—or seven months—what is a matter of a month to the right hon. Gentleman?—after a long period of time he is unable to come to a conclusion upon a matter upon which he expressed quite definite opinions when he was on this side of the House? Why can he not make up his mind?

The Prime Minister

I long ago made up my mind; the question is to get other people to agree. I hope to make a statement on this matter when we meet after Christmas and after the conferences now taking place in Paris, and I would, if I might be permitted by the indulgence of the House, warn the right hon. Gentleman not to be too prophetic about the way in which things are going. They may not all be as unfortunate for this country as he would no doubt wish.

Hon. Members

Withdraw.

Mr. Shinwell

Ignoring that quite unworthy remark, may I ask the Prime Minister why it is that when everybody, including himself, thought that he had remarkable influence with all the other countries concerned in this matter, he has been unable to use his influence in this long period of time?

The Prime Minister

Whether I have been able to use any influence I may possess in the direction suggested cannot be judged by Parliament until the statement is made after the conferences which are taking place in Paris. I certainly would not say this if I have not very great hopes of being able to give—

Hon. Members

Withdraw.

Mr. Mitchison

Is it in order even for the Prime Minister to accuse an hon. Member of this House not merely of unpatriotic action but of unpatriotic motives?

Mr. Speaker

An allegation by one hon. Member against another of un-avowed motives is always out of order.

Hon. Members

Withdraw.

Mr. Mitchison

In those circumstances, Sir, are you prepared to direct the Prime Minister to withdraw his remark?

Mr. Speaker

What I heard said did not, in my judgment, amount to that.

The Prime Minister

As to the question of the imputation of motives, very large latitude has always been given and used in the House. As for the question whether Members in one part of the House think that others are unpatriotic, there again is a subject on which large latitude has been allowed. I respectfully submit that I have not in any way trespassed beyond the latitude which I have seen so freely used during my 50 years' service in this House.

Mr. Attlee

Unless the right hon. Gentleman has failed to study the proceedings of past years, he would know very well that my right hon. Friend the Member for Easington (Mr. Shinwell) worked extremely hard in building up the defences of Western Europe, and that the view which the right hon. Gentleman holds of him is not that which has been held by his colleagues from other countries. The remark is entirely unworthy of the right hon. Gentleman.

Mr. Speaker

I think I am in the recollection of the whole House when I say that I have heard the Prime Minister in the past express appreciation of the same right hon. Gentleman.

The Prime Minister

It is quite true I have in the past expressed appreciation of the right hon. Gentleman's work. I am sorry to say it has been inroaded upon in recent months.

Mr. Attlee

Might I ask the right hon. Gentleman to say what is unpatriotic in seeking to find out whether the right hon. Gentleman has implemented the views which he put so strongly before the House on the need for the proper organisation of defence in the Mediterranean, and why we should not have an explanation of the six months' delay, about which the right hon. Gentleman has given no answer whatever?

The Prime Minister

With great respect to you, Sir, I do not admit that the imputation of want of patriotism is necessarily un-Parliamentary because it may be urged that cosmopolitanism and internationalism cover even a wider sphere. It governs what I said in the matter, and I was warning the right hon. Member for Easington (Mr. Shinwell) that the result of these discussions may be more satisfactory than he now supposes, and he would find himself at a disadvantage in foresight at any rate—[Interruption.]

Mr. Speaker

I would remind the House that this is the first Allotted Day for the Committee stage of the Transport Bill.