HC Deb 20 July 1955 vol 544 cc372-4
50. Mr. Burden

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps were taken to proscribe the five villages bombed by the Royal Air Force in Aden Protectorate; and what prior notice was given to the villagers of the intended operation.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

Before the attack the Political Officer gave a specific assurance that the inhabitants had been given 24 hours' warning. This warning was given by leaflets dropped from aircraft 48 and 24 hours before the attack, and the attack itself was preceded by the dropping of half-hour delay-action bombs as further warning. Leaflets were also distributed in the area by hand.

51. Mr. Burden

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many people were killed or injured when the five villages in Aden Protectorate in which they lived were recently bombed by the Royal Air Force.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

None, Sir.

Mr. Stokes

Will the right hon. Gentleman say what is the sense in these things? If full notice is given to the natives to clear out and remove all their belongings, and, what is more, according to a recent letter published in "The Times," the Government pay compensation if the R.A.F. over-bomb, what is the sense of the thing?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

There is just as much sense as there has been in previous years under other Governments.

Perhaps I may be pardoned if I give a rather long answer to that supplementary. After a somewhat heated exchange between right hon. Gentlemen opposite and myself last week, I told the right hon. Member for Llanelly (Mr. J. Griffiths) that I would welcome an opportunity of giving information about the punishment by bombing from the air that has been indulged in by the Socialist Government for crimes of this kind. I waited patiently for a Question to be put down. No such Question was put down, but an exceedingly inaccurate leading article appeared in the "Daily Herald." I could wish that before charges of this kind were made or attempts to avoid responsibility were undertaken, some statement would be made in the House, and I shall therefore be obliged to ask one of my hon. Friends to put down a Question to be answered in my absence next week giving details of what happened under the Government of which the right hon. Gentleman was a member. The same considerations now apply absolutely.

Mr. Stokes

That really has nothing whatever to do with my question. What I asked the Minister was this. If, in fact, the natives are given full warning that the bombing is to take place and they clear out with all their goods and chattels, and, according to this letter to which I referred, the Government compensate them if the R.A.F. over-bomb, where is the sense in the whole thing? It seems absolutely nonsensical to an ordinary common-sense person.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

Perhaps if the right hon. Gentleman, even if he were able to acquire another home, were driven continually from one home after another for illegal actions, he might think better of his own illegalities.

Sir R. Robinson

Could my right hon. Friend say now what were the precedents set by the previous Government in this matter?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

There are quite a number of them, but taking only the most recent years, in 1947, 1948 and 1950, the same procedure was indulged in in Arabia under the Government of which the right hon. Gentleman was a member.

Mr. Burden

Is it not clear that this was the pattern which was carried out over a considerable period and that it was carried out in order to ensure that no loss of life was involved either among the natives or among the troops which might be taking part; that it was a method which ensured that there was no imprisonment for any native; and that natives would much rather have this sort of punishment than any other? Finally, as my right hon. Friend may have given the impression that these Questions were put into my mouth, would he now deny that impression, since these Questions arose because I have experience of this type of operation?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

I should certainly like to deny any suggestion that these Questions were put into my hon. Friend's mouth. The considerations which he advanced in his supplementary question are absolutely true. This form of collective punishment has proved exceedingly successful over a great many years.