§ 45. Mr. Dribergasked the Prime Minister how soon he expects to receive a report on the situation in the Far East from the Minister of Defence and the Minister of State; and in what form this report will be made available to Parliament.
The Prime Minister (Mr.WinstonChurchill)Statements will be made in both Houses of Parliament on Tuesday next, 1st July.
§ Mr. DribergWill the statement include some reference to, or can the Prime Minister say anything now about, this morning's very serious news of the bombing of targets on the Yalu River, which even General MacArthur never attacked? Can he say whether that action was taken with the knowledge and approval of Her Majesty's Government?
§ The Prime MinisterI have a Private Notice Question dealing with that which I will answer when it is asked.
§ 47. Mr. Wyattasked the Prime Minister to what extent the Minister of Defence visited the battle zone in Korea in his capacity as a Field Marshal on the active list.
§ The Prime MinisterMy noble Friend visited Korea as Minister of Defence. As is well-known a Field Marshal is permanently on the active list without necessarily having executive military command.
§ Mr. WyattIs the Prime Minister aware that many soldiers who might wish to put legitimate grievances to a Minister of Defence who is a civilian are not likely to do so when they find that the visiting Minister of Defence is not only a "brass hat" but the biggest "brass hat" of all? Does he not think it would be far more in accordance with our constitution if the Minister of Defence, if he wishes to pursue a political career, were to resign altogether from the Army?
§ The Prime MinisterI think it rather unfortunate that a young promising Member who has held office in the War Office should use a somewhat disparaging term, like "brass hats," about many of the distinguished, able and agreeable officers with whom he must have worked.
§ Mr. WyattDoes not the Prime Minister understand that what I am concerned about is not the merits of Field Marshal Alexander, on which we all agree, but the constitutional point involved in having a Minister of Defence who is also a Field Marshal and who, instead of divesting himself of his military rank, still wears the uniform of a Field Marshal when he visits the troops.
§ The Prime MinisterI do not think there is really any very serious issue involved. Precedents for the appointment of Field Marshals to high Cabinet positions exist—for instance, Lord Kitchener—and they were approved by the House. I cannot feel that any serious difficulty is likely to arise. I certainly think—I thought so before Field Marshal Alexander departed on his mission—that he should not go into the actual battle zone without wearing the uniform which he has had the honour to wear and sustain through so many years.
§ Mr. BellengerAs the right hon. Gentleman has mentioned Field Marshal Lord Kitchener, does he not recollect the incident when he went, as Secretary of State for War, to Field Marshal French and also donned his uniform, and the discomfort and embarrassment that caused on that occasion?
§ The Prime MinisterIn quoting a precedent to illustrate a point of principle one cannot be sure that all the circumstances connected with the previous incident have actually been parallelled by what has happend on the latest occasion.