§ 11. Mr. Hopkinsonasked the Secretary of State for War if he will now make a statement in regard to the protest addressed to the Commander-in-Chief of the British Commonwealth Forces in the Far East by the Commonwealth chaplains against the decision to bury British soldiers killed in Korea in unconsecrated ground near Yokohama.
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§ Mr. WyattThe incident, which I presume the hon. Member had in mind, occurred in connection with a ceremony in the Imperial War Graves Commission cemetery for the dead of the last war in Yokohama. It had nothing to do with the burial of soldiers killed in Korea. The form of ceremony was decided by the representative of the Imperial War Graves Commission in Tokio and did not include a religious service.
The Deputy Assistant Chaplain-General of the British element of the Commonwealth Forces in Korea had been invited to attend the ceremony and had been given to understand that there would be a short service. On learning that no service would be held he declined the invitation to attend the ceremony and afterwards gave an interview to the Press. He was recalled partly in order that a full investigation into the incident could be made and partly because it was considered that it would not be appropriate for him to remain in his post.