§ 45 and 46. Mr. Nallyasked the Prime Minister (1) the precise nature of the instructions sent by him to Field Marshal Montgomery in 1945 as to the disposition of surrendered German arms and the date and circumstances under which the Supreme Commander, General Eisenhower, was informed of his action;
(2) if, in view of the recent disclosure of the nature of communications between the then Prime Minister and Field Marshal Montgomery in 1945 as to the disposition of German arms captured by, or surrendered to, 21st Army Group, he will now publish all the relevant documents and information available leading to this decision.
§ The Lord Privy Seal (Mr. Harry Crookshank)I have been asked to reply.
My right hon. Friend has nothing to add to the remarks he made on this subject on 1st December.
§ Mr. NallyMight I, in the first place, ask the Leader of the House if he will be kind enough to convey my thanks to the Prime Minister's office for the exceptional trouble that was taken and the great courtesy that was shown in informing me that the Prime Minister would not be present today?
Can the Leader of the House say whether the researches of Field Marshal Montgomery into that section of the national archives over which he appears to have acquired squatter's rights have produced any results whatsoever up to now? Can he say whether the Prime Minister will be prepared later in the week to clear up once and for all the question whether his speech at Woodford was based upon fact, or was merely the product of an exuberant imagination?
§ Mr. CrookshankI have nothing to add to the very full reply which I have already given.