§ 46. Mr. Shinwellasked the Prime Minister whether it was on his instructions General Templer went to Turkey; the purpose of his visit; and whether he will make a statement.
§ The Prime MinisterGeneral Templer visited Turkey at the invitation of the Turkish Government in order to discuss Middle East defence questions.
§ Mr. ShinwellIn addition to military discussions, was General Templer engaged in a diplomatic mission on behalf of the Government? Does he possess any special diplomatic qualification, having regard to what happened in Jordan?
§ The Prime MinisterGeneral Templer was engaged in no diplomatic mission at all. In fact, the arrangements for this visit were made as long ago as last November, when the first suggestion was made, and the formal invitation was issued in April. That having been done, we thought it a mistake to make any change in the visit, and I feel sure that the right hon. Gentleman, as an experienced Minister of Defence, would have done just the same and not cared a "tinker's cuss" what anybody happened to say about it.
§ Mr. ShinwellThe right hon. Gentleman cannot get away with that as easily as he thinks. If he was correct in saying that General Templer went to Turkey at the request of the Turkish Government to discuss military questions, how is it that General Templer is not associated with N.A.T.O., except in a very indirect fashion? Why were these military discussions with Turkey not conducted directly through N.A.T.O., to which Turkey is affiliated?
§ The Prime MinisterThere is nothing either new or extraordinary in this practice. In the previous year Sir John Harding, when Chief of the Imperial General Staff, went on such a visit to Turkey and was very successful. It is not unusual for the C.I.G.S. to visit an allied and friendly country. If he never did so when the right hon. Gentleman was Minister of Defence. I should be very surprised.
Mr. DugdaleDoes the Prime Minister's first answer to my right hon. Friend mean that if the arrangements for General Templer's visit had not been made before his visit to Jordan, he would not have been sent?
§ The Prime MinisterNo. There is no connection whatever with the visit to Jordan. The Turkish Government suggested the visit last November. Not having quite such a suspicious mind as the right hon. Gentleman, it seemed to me natural that, when the visit was confirmed in April, it should take place.