HC Deb 05 August 1947 vol 441 cc140-1W
88. Mr. Mikardo

asked the Secretary of State for War if he has now obtained information on a document, to which his attention has been drawn, reference No. M 42, which was circulated from Sara-fand, on 2nd May, 1947, by the adjutant of the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards, with instructions that it should be read by all officers and, later, made available for reading by other ranks and which included statements prejudging the findings of the United Nations Fact-Finding Commission on Palestine; and whether he will make a statement on the circulation by officers of political opinions on a matter which is sub judice.

Mr. Bellenger

H.Q. Palestine and Transjordan District publish an intelligence news letter from time to time, which is circulated to all units. This news letter includes as appendices copies of articles of all points of view. This is done in order that troops may be kept informed of current views on issues in Palestine. The document referred to by my hon. Friend was a copy of an article published in the "Atlantic Monthly" in February. This article had been republished in the news letter, which was circulated to the Welsh Guards as a normal routine matter. It was in no way presented as an expression of official opinion. Other articles written from entirely different points of view have been similarly republished in other issues of the news letter.