HC Deb 12 February 1957 vol 564 cc1055-6
15. Mr. R. Bell

asked the Secretary of State for War how many copies of Adolf Hitler's "Mein Kampf" recently printed in Arabic were found in the possession of Egyptian officers and other ranks during the recent operations under British command in the Middle East.

Mr. J. Amery

None were found by our forces. I understand, however, that the Israelis captured considerable numbers of "Mein Kampf" in Arabic during the Sinai operation. The book seems to have been in fairly general circulation amongst officers of the Egyptian Army.

Mr. Bell

Can my hon. Friend say whether the circumstances in which these documents were captured did not indicate clearly that they were distributed to officers by the Egyptian Government, and will he ensure that this fact is given adequate publicity in the Middle East?

Mr. Amery

I think that the first part of that supplementary question represents a fair conclusion. I will draw the attention of my colleagues in the Foreign Office to the second one.

Mr. Emrys Hughes

In view of the fact that the Germans are now in Cairo holding a trade exhibition there, and that we are out, does not the hon. Gentleman consider that "Mein Kampf" has won?

Mr. Wigg

Will the hon. Gentleman bear in mind that the copies of "Mein Kampf" found in the possession of the Egyptian Forces had, in fact, been printed in the Lebanon?