§ LORD SOUTHWOODMy Lords, I beg leave to put a question of which I have given private notice. It is whether His Majesty's Government can make any statement about the battle in Egypt.
VISCOUNT CRANBORNEMy Lords, I do not propose to make any statement to-day about the momentous battle now being fought, but I feel that your Lordships' House would wish to know that on June 25 General Auchinleck decided to assume command of the Eighth Army personally in succession to General Ritchie. As soon as His Majesty's Government were informed of his decision, he was told that it had their approval.