§ 28. Mr. Wiggasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what has been the cost to Her Majesty's Government of assisting the establishment of the Arab broadcasting station at Amman; and to what Vote the cost is charged.
§ Mr. Dodds-ParkerThe answer to the first part of the Question is "None, Sir." The second part of the Question does not therefore arise.
§ Mr. WiggWill the Joint Under-Secretary take steps to publicise his reply, because the view is held throughout the Middle East that Mr. Bahri, whose last broadcasting job was speaking for Hitler at the Berlin broadcasting station, the call-sign of which was "Hail the Arab," the same as that of the Amman station, was forced upon the Jordan Government by the Foreign Office?
§ Mr. Dodds-ParkerThat is certainly not true. I hope that those concerned will note my reply and give it due publicity.
§ Mr. ShinwellIs any part of the subvention given to the Jordan Government for the Arab Legion used for broadcasting purposes?
§ Mr. Dodds-ParkerNo, Sir; no money from the Arab Legion subsidy or the development loan is used for that purpose. The broadcasting item in the Jordan budget is entirely a Jordan affair.
§ Mr. WiggIn view of the reply by the Joint Under-Secretary, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment.