§ 2.42 p.m.
§ Lord VAIZEYMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they intend to take to express to the Government of the United States the widespread surprise of the British people at the comments made by the Chairman of the United States Joint Chiefs of Staff on the efficiency and morale of Her Majesty's Armed Forces.
§ Lord WINTERBOTTOMMy Lords, in view of the clarificatory statement made by General Brown on 18th October, in which he expressed, "the greatest admiration and respect for Her Majesty's highly professional Armed Forces", Her Majesty's Government consider that no further steps are necessary.
§ Lord VAIZEYMy Lords, I thank my noble friend for that reply, but I wonder whether he is aware that many of us on this side and, indeed, all sides of the House are extremely proud of our Armed Forces and particularly of their services in Northern Ireland and do not like to have them denigrated by people who are alleged to be our friends and allies.
§ Lord WINTERBOTTOMMy Lords, I believe that my noble friend is taking too gloomy a view. I am sure that this is a classic case of misquotation. General Brown was having a private talk in, I think, April, with Mr. Ronan Lurie, who is a contributing editor and cartoonist of Newsweek International. Suddenly, this statement cropped up in October.
§ Lord SHINWELLMy Lords, is my noble friend aware that, if a fuller and more satisfactory Answer to this Question is required, the Supreme Commander of NATO, General Haig, is addressing a meeting of the House of Lords Defence Group on Wednesday this week at 5 p.m. Members of your Lordships' House will be able to come there and get the answer.
§ The Earl of CLANCARTYMy Lords, are the noble Lord and Her Majesty's Government aware that the American General George Brown was speaking the absolute truth? He was not criticising our Defence Forces for their traditional bravery or fighting abilities. He used the word "pathetic" in his description of our Forces. However, an article, which some of your Lordships may have seen, in the 877 Sunday Telegraph—not yesterday, but the Sunday before—assessing the General's supposed outburst, commented that the General's only error was in using the word, "pathetic", but that actually it would have been more appropriate if he had used the word, "dangerous" in regard to our security situation.
§ Several noble Lords: Speech, speech!
§ The LORD PRIVY SEAL (Lord Peart)My Lords, the noble Lord must ask a question.
§ Lord WINTERBOTTOMMy Lords, following this curtailed report in October of what General Brown said, I should like to quote what he actually said. General Brown said:
Remarks concerning the Armed Forces of the United Kingdom were spoken out of compassion and understanding. I said we would miss them in the Middle East, where they were withdrawing their Forces, because of their long experience. Americans understand and sympathise with the current economic difficulties the British people are going through. We also know their gallantry. There are no braver people. I have the greatest admiration and respect for Her Majesty's highly professional Armed Forces.