asked the Secretary of State for Air how many United States Service men are being housed in private accommodation in the vicinity of Ruislip; and how many are being housed in the United States Air Force Headquarters building.

I am informed that 116 members of the U.S.A.F. are living in private accommodation at Ruislip, and 280 are living in the Headquarters building.

Can the Minister assure the House that none of these American soldiers is taking space which would otherwise be occupied by British families? Will he bear in mind what has been happening recently in the neigh- bouring vicinity of Harrow where a number of ex-Service men's families have been evicted by the War Department and no accommodation has been available for them? Surely if 116 Service men can be housed then British ex-Service men's families can also be housed, can they not?

I do not think the second part of that supplementary question has any reference to the responsibilities of my Department. With regard to the first part of the supplementary, I do not believe that the people of this country are opposed to giving hospitality to American soldiers. I would also say that of the 116 members who are now living in private accommodation, 85 will shortly be found accommodation in the Headquarters Mess.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many Bulgarians are employed in the Bulgarian Legation in London; what appointments do they hold; how many British subjects are employed in His Majesty's Legation at Sofia; and what are their appointments.

As the reply is long, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

In view of the extreme disparity which it is anticipated the reply will show, there being nine Bulgarians in London and 46 British representatives in Sofia, will not my right hon. Friend at least consider withdrawing some of our military representatives and substituting some trade representatives in Sofia?

Taking a comparison between two great Powers represented in Bulgaria, the hon. Gentleman will see from the answer and from the facts for which he asked that our staff is much smaller than that of the Soviet.

Whatever may be the nominal appointment of members of the Bulgarian Legation in London, will the right hon. Gentleman assure the House that he is keeping a good track of their activities?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is now prepared to make a statement concerning the prospect of the Government making a contribution to the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what answer he has made to representations from the United States Government and from the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund regarding the matching in dollars of contributions from His Majesty's Government to this Fund.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is now in a position to make a statement about His Majesty's Government's further contribution to the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund.

This Fund was primarily created to meet the emergency conditions prevailing after the war and our information is that its resources are now running down. There appears to be little prospect of sufficient contributions from other Governments to match the 20 million dollars already appropriated for the Fund by the United States and the Fund will presumably have to spend a large part of its remaining resources on the run-down of its present widespread commitments. It is therefore unlikely to be in a position to continue or extend the work it has been doing in the Middle East, where the serious plight of the Arab refugees needs urgent attention.

We have therefore decided, after consultation with my right hon. and learned Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, that we should not make a further contribution to this Fund, but instead should make an additional £100,000 available through the British voluntary societies to the maintenance of the Arab refugees, a large proportion of whom are children.

Can my right hon. Friend say whether the Government supported the General Assembly in the suggested appeal for either 1949 or 1950?

I must have notice of that I have not the exact information.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that this answer will cause very great distress in all parts of the House and also in the country? Is he further aware that only about a quarter of the children in Europe, in the direst need, are receiving even the most elementary assistance from this fund and that it is of vital importance, both for humanitarian reasons and for more general reasons, that the assistance provided by the International Children's Fund should not cease in the middle of this winter?

We cannot go on giving away money all the time. We have to see which is the best place in which to put it and in the case of the Arab refugees we think there is the biggest claim.

While expressing appreciation of what the Government have already done in this respect, may I ask my right hon. Friend to take into account the urgent need that exists outside the Arab States among children in other parts of the world and to see that steps are taken to use the offer made by the United States of matching grants from other countries with dollars from America in order that the utmost good may be done to the children who are so urgently in need?

Can the right hon. Gentleman tell us whether His Majesty's Government have consulted with the United Nations on the claims under international law and practice which expatriated Arabs may be held to have against the Israeli Government?

I must have notice of that question. It does not arise out of the Question on the Order Paper.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that there are 700,000 refugees from Greece, of whom 200,000 are children, and that that is as high a percentage as that of the Arab refugee children? Will he bear in mind that a contribution in that direction, now that the fund is drying up, will be urgently needed this winter?

The financial aid going to Greece from the United States is very great. I must warn the House that it is all very well to criticise the financial position of the country at one moment and in the next moment to expect us to be able to give to every fund that is raised. When the figures come to be read it will be seen that this country is the leading contributor in the world.

Is it not the case that some of this money is going to help German children in the British zone of Germany and that we are, therefore, receiving aid from the fund, too? Is it not also the case that if we do not assist this fund a large amount of American dollars will be lost to the fund and the beneficent work will be stopped?

I have very grave doubt of that. The response made by other countries to whom the appeal is being made is so small that it makes the matching by America very improbable.

Is it not a fact that the United States promised to add aid very liberally, provided a minimum sum was subscribed by other nations in toto? Is it or is it not the fact that that minimum was subscribed? So far as my information goes, the minimum total has never been reached.

On that matter I think my hon. Friend had better put a Question down.

In view of the statement concerning the funds we have supplied, is it not fair to say that America, Australia, New Zealand and Canada have subscribed more individually than we have?

I do not think that that comparison is sound. Certainly some of those countries have small populations and have given large amounts; but although we have a population of 50 million in this country, we have huge liabilities and have suffered much devastation. Therefore, I do not think that the analogy is quite a correct one.

With very great regret, in view of my right hon. Friend's answer, I feel obliged to give him notice that I shall try to raise this matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what offers he has either from the United States Government or from the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund regarding the matching in dollars of contributions from His Majesty's Government to this Fund.

None, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what action has been taken by His Majesty's Government for the promotion of a national appeal in Britain for the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund in 1949.

After consultation with the trustees of the Lord Mayor's Committee which made a similar appeal last year, with British voluntary societies doing relief work abroad, and with other voluntary bodies engaged in social and welfare work, His Majesty's Government have decided not to sponsor the promotion of an appeal in 1949. The Secretary-General of the United Nations has been formally notified of this decision.

Is it not a fact that His Majesty's Government concurred in a resolution of the General Assembly which called upon all member Governments to sponsor campaigns during this coming year?

I cannot answer that question. I cannot remember. Someone asked a similar question just now.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what financial assistance has been given by the United Nations Relief Organisation for Palestinian Refugees to British voluntary societies which have sent out teams to work under the British Red Cross scheme.

No British voluntary society has sent out teams except the British Red Cross Society itself, which has not received direct financial assistance from the United Nations Relief Organisation for Palestine Refugees. The Society has, however, received from the United Nations Relief Organisation for Palestine Refugees funds through the League of Red Cross Societies approximately £800 for the subsistence of five of the Society's staff for the period ending 31st March, 1949. A similar grant is anticipated for the period ending 30th June, 1949. The Society has also received assistance towards the running expenses of the British Red Cross Society Commission's transport.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how much of the £1 million given to the United Nations Relief Organisation by His Majesty's Government has been allocated to organisation expenses; and whether he is satisfied that the best use is being made of this donation in the actual relief of distress among Arab refugees.

The ratio which the administrative and operational expenses bear to the total contributions (including that of the United Kingdom) is 5.5 per cent., which is well within the percentage provided in the Mediator's estimates and approved by the General Assembly. In my view, the United Nations Relief Organisation are doing good work, considering that the resources made available to them are so limited.

Can my right hon. Friend say whether part of the sums now available are being devoted to the purposes of rehabilitation as well as of relief?

I do not think so. Those that are contributed for relief are going to relief.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to a recent official claim by General Franco that promises had been made him during the war by the Allied leaders that Spain would acquire territory in North Africa at the expense of France on the cessation of hostilities; and if he has any statement to make.

Yes, Sir; and my information shows that the claim is unfounded.

Arising out of that reply, and in view of the fact that we have already been made aware of two secret treaties, although we were assured that none such existed, may we have an assurance from my right hon. Friend that the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Woodford (Mr. Churchill) did not enter into any other secret negotiations of which this House has not been made aware?

Nonsense.

Can I have an answer?

I have given the answer to the Question put to me, and I have no reason to suppose anything in the archives of the Foreign Office exists in this respect. So far as I know there is nothing.

As a charge has been made against my right hon. Friend——

And against the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Warwick and Leamington (Mr. Eden), too.

It is difficult to keep oneself in Order in asking questions on this matter, since the right hon. Gentleman was also a member of the Coalition Government, but may I say that so far as my right hon. Friend and I myself are concerned no such commitment as here described was ever entered into?

Would my right hon. Friend care to consult with the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Warwick and Leamington as to whether there was not a conversation at lunch on 2nd October, 1941, in the terms reported by the Duke of Alba, the then Ambassador, in his telegram of that date, and whether that was not susceptible to the construction that we were offering to support Franco in his claim to French territory?

The hon. Gentleman cannot ask a question of the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Warwick and Leamington, but only of the Foreign Secretary.

Since my Leader's reputation has been impugned, may I ask the Foreign Secretary whether there is anything in the records whatever to give any justification to the statements of the hon. Member for Ipswich (Mr. Stokes)?

Nothing whatever.

rose——

Withdraw.

In view of the fact—it is within your recollection, Sir—that I was prevented from raising this matter on another occasion earlier, I beg to give notice that I shall raise it again on a suitable occasion.

Withdraw.

Certainly not.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the difficulty of reaching agreement with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in Europe, His Majesty's Government will now take steps to bring about a peace treaty with Japan without Russian co-operation.

I cannot accept the implication in the Question that we should despair of reaching agreement with the Soviet Government on European questions. The future international status of Japan is now under discussion in the Far Eastern Commission on proposals recently submitted by the United States delegate. The measure of agreement or disagreement in the forthcoming debates will doubtless be a guide to His Majesty's Government's future action on this subject.

Does the right hon. Gentleman appreciate the very grave danger of leaving the peace treaty with Japan so long open, as the Japanese, so far as one knows, have done nothing in the last few years to prevent the making of a peace treaty with Japan?

I quite admit that there is disagreement between the Great Powers—not so much about getting a peace treaty as about the procedure of how to get it.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how far the permission by the Argentine appropriate Ministers to open discussions on compensation for British shareholders of Buenos Aires Tramways Corporation has progressed since 1st June.

No discussions have yet been opened between the Argentine authorities and the representatives of the British companies concerned.

Has it not been publicly stated in the Argentine that as soon as the trade agreements are settled these negotiations will be opened? Can the right hon. Gentleman assure this House that the Ambassador will take every step to see that this is done?

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what further information he can give about the whereabouts and conditions under which Cardinal Mindszenty is living, and the state of his health.

I regret that I have received no reliable information on the subject.

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that people are beginning to feel that we are taking no further interest in the case of Cardinal Mindszenty? Does he not further realise that this is causing great disheartenment to people, especially now that the trouble is starting in Czechoslovakia—that after a short period we drop these people because they are no longer in the public eye?

I was asked a Question. I have given the answer. I was asked whether I had further information, and I have informed the hon. Member that I have no reliable information on the matter.

Cannot the right hon. Gentleman say whether any effort is being made to get such information?

We are constantly on the lookout.

Will any inquiries being made in Hungary on these matters be extended also to M. Rajk and other people being victimised by the Hungarian Government?

Can the right hon. Gentleman tell us whether any special steps were taken to keep the Foreign Office in touch with the where-about of Cardinal Mindszenty?

Really, I ought not to be asked to answer these questions. [HON. MEMBERS: "Why not?"] How can I take special Steps if I have to tell hon. Members everything I am doing?

While entirely supporting the basis of these questions, may I ask my right hon. Friend whether he is aware that he has done far more for the victims of the Communist terror than did the Tory Government?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the proposed use of an Austrian radio station for the re-diffusion of the British Broadcasting Corporation's foreign language broadcasts.

Yes, Sir. The British Broadcasting Corporation's foreign language broadcasts to Germany, Italy and South-Eastern Europe are re-broadcast regularly by the former Nazi 100 kilowatt transmitter at Graz-Dobel in the British zone of Austria. The transmitter is under the direct control of the British occupation authorities and the use to which it is put is solely the responsibility of His Majesty's Government. The running costs of the station are paid by the British Broadcasting Corporation in sterling at the rate of about £15,000 a year.

As the Austrian Chancellor, Dr. Figl, recently said, speaking of the B.B.C., that transmissions were reaching a point in Austria where the Austrian people were being asked to pay for a great deal of foreign propaganda to which they did not want to listen, and as there seems to be a decent chance now of getting a peace treaty with Austria, can the right hon. Gentleman try to influence the B.B.C. at least not to extend their broadcasting from Austria?

If Dr. Figl said that he could not have been referring to the British Government, because he does not pay anything. We pay for this, so it must have been some other Government that he had in mind.

In stating that this broadcasting station is under the sole control of the British authorities, is not the Foreign Secretary aware that hitherto this broadcasting station has been at the disposal of the Austrian authorities for broadcasts in the Austrian language; that only within the last two or three weeks has a peremptory order been given that they must now be diverted to foreign language broadcasts at the expense of the Austrian people; that this is the only effective broadcasting station which is at the command of the Austrian people and that it will be difficult for the Austrian people to appreciate why at this stage, after four years' occupation, we should now seek to take over such facilities on the sole ground that we are the occupying authority?

I will look into that.

In view of that last supplementary question, would the right hon. Gentleman like to reconsider the previous answer which he just gave to me?

The answer I gave was perfectly correct. The hon. Member said that what the Austrians were complaining of was that they were made to pay, and I told the hon. Member that as we were paying them they could not have been referring to us.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what action he has taken, in view of the economic blockade of Yugoslavia established by the Communist-controlled neighbours of Yugoslavia, to ensure that the fullest com- mercial relations are established between this country and Yugoslavia.

A trade agreement was concluded with Yugoslavia last December. It provides for the exchange of goods of a total value of about £30 million between that date and 30th September of this year. Negotiations are now proceeding in Belgrade for a long-term agreement.

While being in the fortunate position of being able, for once, to agree with both Marshal Tito and Marshal Stalin in what they say about each other, may I ask my right hon. Friend whether he will make it perfectly clear as a matter of the policy of the Government that we will not allow any country to be overcome by economic strangulation in a "cold war"?

We really must have this business dealt with through the Board of Trade on a trade basis.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Yugoslav Government are still giving some assistance to Communist rebels in Greece, and should not the establishment of fuller commercial relations be made dependent upon the complete closing of the Yugoslav-Greek frontier?

Is it not a fact that Yugoslavia is able to supply this country with a considerable amount of timber, of which we are in considerable need?

That is quite true. Talks are going on with Bulgaria, Roumania, Yugoslavia and all these countries in connection with trade, and I cannot from the Foreign Office interfere in every detail that arises and inject political considerations at every turn.

Is a running account kept of the effect of the agreement made last December; and can the right hon. Gentleman tell us how many of this £30 million worth have been (a) exported and (b) imported up to date?

I suggest to the hon. Gentleman that he should put that question to my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the resignation of Mr. C. G. Bidwell, the head of the British Council in Poland.

Mr. Bidwell joined the British Council in 1943 after being released from the Army to do so, and served with it until his recent defection. From 1946 onwards he was the Council's representative in Poland, and appeared to be discharging his duties competently. In September last he married, under Polish law, a Polish woman who had been employed as a secretary in the private office of General Grosz, the Minister of Information. On 4th June he informed His Majesty's Ambassador that he had sent in his resignation to the Chairman of the Council, that he had become a Polish subject and had renounced British nationality. His resignation has been rejected, and he has been dismissed as from 4th June.

Was it a cause of surprise to the right hon. Gentleman that Mr. Bidwell, who was known to hold Marxist-Socialist views, should suddenly have the courage of his convictions and become a Communist?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the value during the last full year of raw cotton exported by the Sudan and of cotton cloth imported; and what was the value of cotton cloth manufactured in the Sudan.

The value of raw cotton exported from the Sudan during 1948 was £E16,100,000. The value of cotton cloth imported into the Sudan during the same period was £E4,600,000. Cotton cloth is not yet being manufactured on a significant scale in the Sudan, but it is expected that a mill with an annual capacity of 3,600,000 yards will be ready to operate next year.

Can the Foreign Secretary assure the House that steps are being taken to develop the cotton manufacturing industry in the Sudan, in view of the fact that the raw materials are there; and as they are exporting this cotton and importing the made-up goods, can he say exactly what steps are being taken in the matter?

I have just given the answer. A mill will be introduced next year. At the same time, the scheme is one of the most magnificent developments in the world, and the cotton has to be exported to be manufactured and worn by other nations, as well as used for what they themselves consume.

Is the Foreign Secretary not aware that the cotton exported from the Sudan is very often of a different type from that required for making cotton cloth for wearing?

Yes, that is quite true.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement with regard to the provision of a municipal council or for elected representatives to the Legislative Council of the Colony of Hong Kong.

A motion by unofficial members of the Legislative Council on the subject of constitutional reform is down for debate in Hong Kong today. I expect to receive shortly the Governor's recommendations in the light of this debate.

Can my right hon. Friend say, in view of the long delays which have attended consideration of other proposals for representative Government in Hong Kong, how long he thinks consideration of these recommendations will take on this occasion?

The Hong Kong Legislative Council is considering the question today, and it would be unwise for me to make any statement until I hear from the Government.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how much of the £120 million allocated to the Colonies under the Colonial Development and Welfare Act, 1945, has been taken up each year since the passing of the Act; and what is the overall amount spent in the Colonies on development and welfare each year since the passing of the Act.

The following annual sums have been issued from the Colonial Development and Welfare Vote since the 1946 Act came into force: 1946–47, £3,150,000; 1947–48, £5,130,000; 1948–49, £6,240,000. There are no means of answering the second part of the Question, since many aspects of development and welfare in the Colonies are so closely integrated with normal administration and development that separate overall figures are net available.

As these figures which the right hon. Gentleman has given in no way bear any relation to the average annual proportion of the £120 million allocated by the Act, can he say what steps are being taken to ensure that the Act is being operated? Is he satisfied, for example, that the Governments of the Colonies are really carrying the Act out in spirit and in letter?

The Governments are carrying out the Act both in spirit and letter. I would remind the hon. Member that a Bill is before the House which deals with the whole of this subject and expenditure under the Act.

Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied, in comparison with other capital developments undertaken by the Government, that there are proper priorities in regard to materials needed for this Colonial expenditure?

Yes, Sir. During the past year there has been a tremendous speed-up in regard to the delivery of capital goods and other raw materials required for this development work.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if the Indian authorities have replied to his representations regarding the refusal of the Govern- ment of India to allow Indian labourers going on leave to Madras to return to Malaya.

The High Commission has been informed by the Indian Representative in Malaya that in certain special cases involving genuine hardship permission will be granted to return to Malaya.

Does the right hon. Gentleman appreciate the seriousness of this ban on the return of Indian labour to Malaya, and can he say why it is that the Government of India should adopt this very unto-operative attitude towards another member of the Commonwealth?

All I can say at the moment is that this question is receiving our further consideration.

asked the Prime Minister what visits have been paid by Ministers this year to factories either wholly or partly for the purpose of familiarising themselves with joint production committees.

Ministers have of course already made a great many visits to factories during this year. In the course of these visits every suitable opportunity is taken to include an examination of the arrangements for joint consultation whether through production committees or otherwise.

Will the Prime Minister ensure that in future these visits are not used mainly for the purpose of disseminating Labour Party propaganda?

I do not know to what instance, if any, the hon. Member is referring. Perhaps if he has any particular instance in mind he will refer it to me.

asked the Lord President of the Council on what date he expects that the Radcliffe Committee investigating the British Broadcasting Corporation's affairs will commence its operations; and what is the address to which members of the public wishing to give evidence should apply.

In answer to the first part of my hon. Friend's Question, I would refer him to my statement of yesterday about the Committee of Inquiry into British broadcasting services. People who wish to give evidence should apply to the Secretary to the Committee, Broadcasting Branch, General Post Office Headquarters, London, E.C.1.

Will the right hon. Gentleman ensure that the utmost possible publicity is given to this address to which people can apply, and also to the procedure to be followed by the Committee to ensure that members of the public, as well as members of the B.B.C. staff, who wish to give evidence will be encouraged to come forward, so that all the relevant matters may be considered?

I share my hon. Friend's hope that publicity will be given to the particulars of the secretaryship of the Committee. As regards procedure, that is a matter for the Committee.

Can my right hon. Friend assure me that the Committee will commence its operations in time to consider the scandalous travesty of an alleged impartial broadcast given over the Scottish radio by the hon. and gallant Member for East Renfrew (Major Lloyd) on 10th June?

asked the Minister of Defence whether, in view of the relatively late age at which medical officers are called up for National Service, he will authorise the payment of marriage allowances at the recently increased rates to those who have been married before being called up or during National Service.

The higher age and special qualifications of National Service medical officers are recognised by the grant of higher rank and pay on entry; if married, they are entitled to marriage allowance at the rates appropriate to other National Service officers. I regret that it is not possible to treat medical officers more favourably than other National Service officers or than National Service men in this matter.

In view of the considerations which the right hon. Gentleman has just mentioned, will he not reconsider this matter? Is it not very important that these men, who are necessarily called up much later than anyone else, should be treated in a way proper to their age and calling?

The average age of entry is about 24 years and nine months. These medical officers start with the rank of full lieutenant or the equivalent and are much better off than other National Service officers.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that some medical officers are not called up until they are nearly 30, until they have specialised, and that it is a great disadvantage to these men to have a low marriage allowance at that age?

I do not think that they are badly off at that age compared with the position of other National Service officers.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that the qualifications are exactly the same, whether the medical officers are National Service officers or Regular officers? Could he give the reason for this discrimination? Is it really to the advantages of the Services?

This matter has already been considered. The policy of the Government has been stated, and I am not in a position to suggest any variation of it.