§ LORD BALFOUR OF INCHRYEMy Lords, I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Air a question of which I have given private notice—namely, whether the attention of His Majesty's Government has been drawn to instances of dissatisfaction in Royal Air Force stations in the East, and whether they have any statement to make.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR AIR (VISCOUNT STANSGATE)My Lords, I will, with your permission, make a statement about the recent instances of dissatisfaction at Royal Air Force stations in the East. The facts are that incidents have occurred at twelve stations. I am glad to say that at eleven stations men have returned to duty, and I have just received a signal to say that at the twelfth station they are returning to duty tomorrow. I have personally examined, 2 or the Prime Minister has personally examined, the reports of the Commanding Officers about the complaints of the men at these stations and I am satisfied that the detailed points raised by the men are being most adequately and carefully dealt with in every case. The fullest and most up-to-date information is being sent out to all Royal Air Force stations in the form of a special series of signals called Demobforms and is being amplified in personal signals to the Commanders-in-Chief, dealing with complaints voiced by the men on this occasion.
The main and natural concern of the men is, however, with the general rate of demobilization. Their desire to return home and to civilian life will be understood and sympathized with by all members of the House. But if we are to secure the fruits of victory we must carry out the commitments we have undertaken in all parts of the world. These commitments, which are essential to future peace, inevitably throw heavy burdens on all the Services, and they deserve our gratitude for bearing them. The Government needs no reminder of the urgency of the maximum acceleration of demobilization. For some time now a special inquiry has been afoot into the possibility of more rapid and extensive reductions in the Forces and the result will be announced as soon as the inquiry is completed.
In the meanwhile, I take this opportunity to emphasize that the general rate of demobilization from the three Services taken together has not been slowed up since the end of the year and the Royal 3 Air Force is abreast of the other Services. The particular number released in any given month may vary within fairly narrow limits—rather fewer men will be released from the Royal Air Force in February than either January or March, for example. But the general rate of some 100,000 men a week from the three Services is being maintained. Some men in the Royal Air Force have evidently received the impression that there has been a slowing up in the rate of release. This is no doubt because fewer groups are being released each month than before the end of last year; but this is accounted for by the fact that the Royal Air Force release groups now being reached are almost twice as large as the earlier release groups. Therefore the release of each group now means the demobilization of something like double the number of men. To deal with the tremendous task of demobilizing millions of men and women it is essential to follow a definite plan which does sometimes involve some local and sectional hardship. But the inequality of release between trades, inevitable in a Technical Service like the Royal Air Force has steadily decreased, and the numbers whose release is delayed behind the normal now represent about 3 per cent. of the whole.
The facts about demobilization are being fully and regularly explained to the men and I attach the greatest importance to the use of this machinery of information. It will naturally be used to keep the Forces abreast of the plans which are being made to accelerate release. Refusals of duty on the part of any units can only slow down the accelerated release we all want to achieve. I must make it quite clear that there will be no concession to indiscipline. If men undertake the unwarrantable step of refusing duty, this can only result in disciplinary action. Proper channels exist for the statement of grievances. These channels are fully open.
§ VISCOUNT LONGMy Lords, may I ask the noble Viscount if he is aware of the fact that there are officers, to my certain knowledge, who have served in His Majesty's Forces as privates, gunners and so forth, who were due for demobilization in the middle of December when the other ranks were demobilized, but who are to-day, six or seven weeks after, 4 awaiting demobilization from abroad, and who have no chance of coming home?
§ VISCOUNT STANSGATEI have no particular knowledge of the situation in the Army, but in my reply I did refer to the heavy burden laid on all Services in the necessarily ordered progress of demobilization.
§ LORD SHERWOODMay I ask if the noble Viscount will clear up with the Press the question whether this is a strike or whether it is a mutiny? I think it is a very serious matter that the statement is being put about that these are strikes which anyone might join. Mutiny is a much more serious matter, and the knowledge that it is mutiny might deter serious minded men from joining in.
§ VISCOUNT STANSGATEI have been able to tell the House that the twelve incidents that have occurred have now all ended, and I do not think I need say anything further that might possibly have the result of disturbing feeling. We hope that the quiet will continue.