§ VISCOUNT DILHORNEMy Lords, I beg leave to ask Her Majesty's Government the Question of which I have given Private Notice:
Whether there is any truth in the statement published in the centre pages of yesterday's The Times that
serious thought is being given to the problem of planning for possible military intervention in Rhodesia".
§ THE MINISTER OF DEFENCE FOR THE ROYAL AIR FORCE (LORD SHACKLETON)My Lords, Her Majesty's Government are not responsible for what appears in the Press. However, it would be appropriate on this occasion to say that Her Majesty's Government are surprised and sorry that this wholly speculative article with its rather sensational headlines should have been published in The Times, when the whole problem of Rhodesia is known to be in a delicate state and when negotiations are in train. I wish to make it clear that the article is inaccurate and in no way based on official sources.
§ VISCOUNT DILHORNEMy Lords, I should like to thank the noble Lord for his reply and to say that I agree with the sentiments that he has expressed. I would also express the hope that his answer will not be tucked away in the middle of a column but get at least equal publicity to the original statement.