HC Deb 11 December 1957 vol 579 cc1243-4
20. Mr. G. Thomas

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the announcement by Lieutenant-General Sir E. Otway Herbert, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Command, which was delivered to the Institution of Electrical Engineers at Chester on 11th November, to the effect that Russian scientific claims were not to be believed, was made with his authority; and whether he will make a statement.

25. Mr. Swingler

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the speech by Lieutenant-General Sir E. Otway Herbert. General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Command, at Chester on 11th November, declaring that the Soviet authorities must never be believed about anything they tell us, was made with the authority of his Department.

The Secretary of State for War (Mr. John Hare)

No authority was necessary. I understand that General Herbert's remark was that we should not believe everything the Russians tell us.

Mr. Thomas

Whether or not the Secretary of State has done me the favour of reading this speech, is he aware that this officer did not believe there was a Sputnik and did not believe there was a dog in the Sputnik?

Mr. Nabarro

Was there a dog in the Sputnik?

Mr. Thomas

If that officer holds those strange views of the Russian experiments, what view would he take of the American experiments?

Mr. Hare

The latter part of the supplementary question is somewhat hypothetical. I think the reports of this speech were somewhat exaggerated. I have indeed done the hon. Member the courtesy of looking into it, and I can assure him that what Lieutenant-General Herbert implied was that we should not believe everything the Russians tell us. I think that is probably wise advice.