VISCOUNT ELIBANKMy Lords, I wish to ask the noble Lord, Lord Moyne, the Leader of the House, a question of which I have given him Private Notice and it is this: To ask His Majesty's Government whether there is any truth in the persistent rumour that General Sir Archibald Wavell has suffered curtailment of his powers of direction in the Middle East and Balkans campaign owing to the recent visit of the Chief of the Imperial General Staff to the Middle East, and whether they will give an assurance that this is not the case, and that General Wavell still enjoys their full confidence.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (LORD MOYNE)My Lords, there is no foundation whatever for any such rumour as is stated in the noble Viscount's question, and I am obliged to him for giving me the opportunity for saying that General Sir Archibald Wavell enjoys the full confidence of the Government and has suffered no curtailment whatever in his powers of direction in the Middle East and Balkans. The recent visit of the Chief of the Imperial General Staff to the Middle East was in accordance with the normal practice under which personal contact between the highest military authorities at home and in the field is consistently maintained.