§ 46. Mr. Lewisasked the Prime Minister what steps he has taken to ensure that military personnel seconded to inter national appointments are precluded from making political statements which could cause difficulties in international relationships.
§ The Prime MinisterI should prefer to deal with this general question in terms of some particular example.
§ Mr. LewisIs the Prime Minister aware of the fact that in Athens, on 9th May, Field Marshal Montgomery stated that no nation should maintain in peacetime such armed forces that the standard of life of its people suffered? Is that in accordance with the re-armament policy of Her Majesty's Government?
§ The Prime MinisterI should like to be furnished with the full text. That might perhaps be the subject of another Question.
§ Mr. LewisIs the Prime Minister aware of the fact that this statement appeared in the "New York Times"? I will see that he gets a copy of that statement and then perhaps he can let me have a reply through the normal channels.
§ The Prime MinisterIt might have been reported in the "New York Times," but before answering any Question on the matter I should like to refer it to the officer in question.