§ LORD VANSITTARTMy Lords, I beg to ask the question standing in my name.
§ [The Notice was as follows:
§ To call attention to the article published in the current issue of the American. Mercury under the title "Our Government's case for Expediency," apparently purporting to reflect the views of the State Department, and intimating that "there are most likely to be deals with other Darlans not only in France but in other Axis-dominated countries, and even with the Prussian Junkers"; and to ask whether His Majesty's Government will give an assurance that there is no foundation for these disturbing allegations.]
§ THE EARL OF SELBORNEMy Lords, the attention of my right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary has been drawn to the article in the American Mercury to which the noble Lord's question refers. As the House will be aware, the American Mercury is an unofficial publication, and the article in question no doubt represents the personal views of its author. It is clearly not for His Majesty's Government to comment on the statements of American journalists regarding the policy of their own Government, nor to answer for the United States Administration. But the noble Lord will doubtless warmly welcome the President's recent description of the Casablanca meeting as the "unconditional surrender" meeting.
§ LORD VANSITTARTMy Lords, I hope that answer will serve to allay the considerable suspicions and uneasiness that were certainly aroused by that article, and will put them at rest. I also venture to hope that the American Mercury will make no more such suggestions.
§ House adjourned.