§ Sir R. Glynasked the Minister of Information whether his attention has been drawn to a film produced by the War Organisation of the United States of America and entitled "Objective Burma, "which is being exhibited both in this country and overseas; and, in view of the fact that the British and Indian forces who mainly cleared Burma are ignored, what steps he is taking to counter the bad effects of this film on our relations with the United States of America and on our prestige abroad.
§ Mr. E. J. WilliamsAs the hon. and gallant Member may have seen in the newspapers, this film has been voluntarily withdrawn from circulation in this country. The official British film of the 14th Army's campaign in Burma, made by the Army Film Unit, is now being completed and will be ready for public exhibition both at home and abroad in the course of the next few weeks. In this connection I should like to refer to the official figures for the strength of forces in South East Asia Command which were released to the Press on 11th September.
82WThey show that in 1944 (the year to which the film in question presumably refers) British Commonwealth and Empire forces in Burma accounted for 80 per cent. of their total Allied strength and 88 per cent. of their combat strength. Taking ground combat forces only the percentage of British Commonwealth and Empire forces was 91 per cent., the actual figure being 669,553.