§ LORD DAVIESMy Lords, I beg to ask the question standing in my name.
§ [The question was as follows:
§ To ask His Majesty's Government, if their attention has been drawn to the further reports which appeared in the Press on the 1st instant relating to the unfortunate effect created in the U.S.A. by our inadequate participation in the recent United Nations Day Parade in New York; if they are aware that the American Organizing Committee expended £250 of their own funds for the provision of an additional British feature in an attempt to rectify what they regarded as a thoroughly unsatisfactory position; if any evidence can be adduced to refute the statement that certain British officials tried, without success, to discourage the representatives of India from providing a float; and if they will institute further inquiries into the matter and, if necessary, take appropriate measures to prevent a repetition of such unfortunate occurrences.]
§ THE EARL OF SELBORNEMy Lords, I have seen the reports to which the noble Lord refers and which, so far as I am aware, have been confined to one newspaper. I have made further inquiry, and I am glad to be able to say that there is no truth in the suggestion that any United Kingdom representative attempted to influence in any way the plans of the Indian representatives in regard to India's representation. The British authorities concerned were not consulted as to the expenditure of £250 by the Committee or informed of their intention to provide any additional British feature; nor were they given to understand that the attendance of detachments of the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force was not regarded as an entirely satisfactory and sufficient form of British participation. Your Lordships may have seen photographs in this week's issue of the Illustrated London News showing these detachments in the parade. I have therefore no reason to change the opinion as to the effectiveness of the British arrangements expressed in my reply to a question put by the noble Lord on a previous occasion.