asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will reconsider his decision to reduce his financial support of the British Broadcasting Corporation's overseas services, in view of the major part which the voice of Britain plays in expounding the foreign policy of Great Britain to foreign countries, especially those under the domination of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the United States and Soviet decision to increase their foreign broadcasting, he will reconsider the decision to cut down support for British broadcasting overseas.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the need to present Britain's point of view adequately abroad, he will reconsider the decision to reduce the grant to the British Broadcasting Corporation for overseas services.

It has been decided to recommend that increased provision should be made for the B.B.C.'s overseas services in order to prevent the loss by the Corporation of the channel-hours now in use for broadcasting to Europe. The amount required in addition to the figure of £4,650,000 which I mentioned in the House on 4th April is estimated at about £100,000, and it is proposed in due course to present the necessary Supplementary Estimate to the House.

Since it is apparent from that answer that the right hon. Gentleman intends to make substantial cuts in this vital national defence service is it not essential that the House should be informed without further delay exactly where, how, and when those cuts are to be effected?

The House must face the fact that we are to spend more on this service in the present financial year than we did in the last. We had a Budget yesterday in which everybody was agreed that we must be economical in public expenditure. I think the House can take it that, broadly speaking, the cuts will not be material, but it will be the case, however, that in certain parts of the world which we have chosen with very great care—they will not be cut out altogether—the number of hours will be somewhat reduced. Europe we are maintaining, and there will be no cut whatever so far as the Soviet Union and countries in Eastern Europe are concerned.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that his original answer will give great satisfaction to all hon. Members of the House because of the receptiveness he has shown to the feeling exhibited on this matter?

I am much obliged. I always try to live happily with the House of Commons.

While thanking my right hon. Friend for responding to representations from this side of the House, will he bear in mind that the only way in which the Chinese people, for example, could be told of his remarks about China the other day, was by the overseas services of the B.B.C., and that those services need strengthening, not merely having their cuts restored?

I appreciate that such friendly pressure as did come was from this side of the House. [Laughter.] Well, that is my impression. My hon. Friend need not be apprehensive on the point he has raised.

Does the right hon. Gentleman's statement mean that the wavelengths previously employed on these services will now be fully used, and that there is no danger of our losing time on any of these wavelengths?

There is a technical difference between wavelengths and channels, about which I hope nobody will cross-examine me. It is inevitable that some hours will be lost, but we are trying to keep the channels open so that as far as possible we lose touch with no part of the world.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will say to which countries British Broadcasting Corporation's foreign broadcasts are now to be continued.

The B.B.C. will continue to broadcast to the same foreign countries as at present, although for less time in some cases.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he has yet made any progress in his discussions with the other Powers concerned which will result in more wavelengths being made available for the overseas and foreign broadcasts of the British Broadcasting Corporation.

I regret that the answer given by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary to a supplementary question on this subject on 21st February should have given the impression that discussions on this matter were taking place with other Powers. This is not so. I have been discussing with my colleagues ways and means of securing an improved B.B.C. service to Germany and am hopeful that it will be possible to make more satisfactory arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to what extent the Egyptian Government have fulfilled their commitments under the Anglo-Egyptian Treaty to provide accommodation and public utilities for British Forces stationed in the Canal Zone; and what was the estimated amount owing to the United Kingdom at the end of 1950.

No accommodation or public utilities have been provided at the Egyptian Government's expense for His Majesty's Forces stationed in the Suez Canal zone. As regards the second part of this Question, the nature and extent of the building carried out by His Majesty's Forces in Egypt during and since the Second World War have differed so greatly from that envisaged in the 1936 Treaty that I do not think it would serve any useful purpose to attempt at present to make the financial calculation suggested by the hon. Member.

Could the right hon. Gentleman say whether this is not, in fact, a debt owing to this country by the Egyptian Government over the past 15 years, and was any effort made to get some settlement of this debt during the recent financial negotiations between His Majesty's Government and the Egyptian Government?

It is a complicated debt, but I can assure the House that in discussions which may take place in the future on the numerous claims outstanding between the two Governments this fact will certainly be kept in mind.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give the House an assurance that barrack and other accommodation will be paid for before it is occupied by the Egyptian Army?

One cannot be too categorical about that because of the facts of the Great War, when exceptional measures had to be taken.

When is the right hon. Gentleman proposing to make a detailed statement about the conversations now going on in regard to the evacuation of the Suez Canal zone?

There will be a Question about that at the end of Questions by the Leader of the Opposition.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is in a position to give an account of conversations that have taken place between His Majesty's Government and other members of the United Nations on the political and military advisability of crossing the 38th Parallel; on what date these conversations commenced; and whether they are likely to be concluded before the 38th Parallel is crossed in strength.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if agreement has been reached upon the territorial objectives of the United Nations Forces in Korea and the extent of the United Nations advance beyond the 38th Parallel.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will propose that instructions should be sent by the relevant United Nations Committee to their Supreme Commander in Korea as to the making of political statements; and what protests have been made by His Majesty's Government to the United States Government concerning the repeated pronouncements by General MacArthur which deal with political matters as well as military, in view of the fact that General MacArthur is in command of British troops.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) if he will initiate discussions with the United States Government and other members of the United Nations with a view to establishing more satisfactory machinery for communication between the United Nations organisation and the Supreme Commander for the United Nations Forces in Tokyo;

(2) if, in view of the urgent necessity of clarifying the situation in Korea and the intentions of the United Nations, he will endeavour to secure a fresh statement of the aims of the United Nations in the Korean conflict.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if, in view of the altered military situation, he is now prepared to make a fresh statement clarifying the objectives of the United Nations in Korea.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will initiate discussions with the United States Government and other members of the United Nations with a view to securing more effective control of the Supreme Commander of the United Nations Forces in Tokyo.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) when a new statement on war aims in Korea may be expected;

(2) whether the British Government have joined with other powers concerned in the fighting in Korea who have drawn up a draft statement of war aims in Korea.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what are the official channels through which His Majesty's Government can ensure that their views are taken into account by General MacArthur in the conduct of the campaign in Korea.

In view of the large number of Questions regarding Korea, I will, with permission, make a statement in relation to these Questions at the end of Questions.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will reconsider Government policy regarding the inclusion of Spain and Western Germany in the defence arrangements of the Atlantic Pact countries in the light of the recent decision of the United States Senate on this subject.

His Majesty's Government, together with the other North Atlantic Treaty Governments, have already agreed to the principle of a German contribution to Western defence. The participation of Spain in such arrangements is a matter for consideration by North Atlantic Treaty Governments in common. As regards the policy of His Majesty's Government, I have nothing to add to the reply already given to the hon. Member on 29th January.

While I do not wish in any way to be political or provocative about the question of Spain, would not the right hon. Gentleman agree that there should be the closest possible consultation between us and the United States of America so as to ensure the minimum divergence between us on these important matters of policy?

That depends upon which way the matter of policy is going.

When these matters are discussed, would the right hon. Gentleman make quite sure that our position with regard to Gibraltar is fully understood?

Yes, Sir. I understand that, too.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement on the progress of the discussions between the deputies of the Foreign Ministers at the Palais Rose in Paris.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for West Ham, North (Mr. A. Lewis), on 4th April.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what directives were given to General Sir William Morgan before he left for the United States of America.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on 5th April to my hon. Friend the Member for Holborn and St. Pancras, South (Dr. Jeger).

While no criticism is offered by me, at any rate, about the way in which this officer executed the directive which was given to him, ought such high officials not to be requested, when they go outside their commission, to speak with greater discretion on subjects such as that with which he dealt?

I think everybody should be careful when travelling about the world but I ought to say, in fairness to the accuracy of the record, that Sir William Morgan is not a serving officer. He is no longer in that position and, therefore, the situation is not quite as my hon. Friend might have thought it was.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the British Government have considered the complaint of Egypt as to the bombing of Syrian Army posts by Israeli aircraft; and, as a signatory to the Tripartite Declaration of May, 1950, relating to security in the Middle East, what was the reply of His Majesty's Government.

On 4th April, seven Israel police were killed in a clash with Syrian elements in the area of El Hamma, which lies south-east of Lake Galilee, and in one of the zones demilitarised under the Israel-Syrian Armistice Agreement. As a retaliatory measure Israel aircraft bombed positions on Syrian territory on 5th April. On receipt of this information His Majesty's Ministers at Tel Aviv and Damascus were instructed to press the Israel and Syrian Governments respectively to cease all offensive operations immediately, and to withdraw their troops, if any, from the demilitarised zone.

On 6th April, the Under-Secretary of the Egyptian Ministry for Foreign Affairs made an oral communication to His Majesty's Embassy at Cairo to the effect that the Egyptian Government viewed the Israel action with concern and wished to draw the attention of His Majesty's Government, as one of the signatories of the Tripartite Declaration, to the seriousness of the situation. His Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires at Cairo was instructed to inform the Egyptian Government in reply that His Majesty's Government shared their concern and to notify them of the instructions sent to His Majesty's Ministers at Tel Aviv and Damascus.

In view of the cold-blooded murder of these seven policemen and also of the fact that others were taken prisoner, would my right hon. Friend see that the United Nations acts to prevent Syria from taking further action of this description? Will he also ask Egypt, when she interferes in these matters, to interfere on the right side and not on the wrong side?

If I may say so, in these matters concerning Israel and the Arab States, with whom His Majesty's Government are anxious to live in friendship—all of them—I would beg all hon. Members to try not to be too biased in their statements.

In view of what the right hon. Gentleman has just said, will he think it right to query the use of question-begging words like "murder" before all the facts involved in this very tragic and regrettable incident have become plain?

I do not wish to respond to the hon. Gentleman's desire to get me into trouble with my hon. Friend. I gather this matter is to be the subject of international investigation on the initiative of the parties concerned and I think that at this stage the more we can be impartial the better.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether any military activity is going on in the area at the moment?

I cannot be quite sure, but I think not.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can inform the House of the reply received from the Persian Government to the British Government's Note of 14th March, concerning the Persian proposals to nationalise the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company's interests in that country.

The Persian Government's reply to our Note to them of 14th March was handed to His Majesty's Ambassador on 8th April, and a copy is being made available in the Library today.

Is the whole question of the nationalisation of the oil industry in Persia now being considered at a conference between ourselves and the United States?

We are in discussion with the United States about the general oil problem in the Middle East. No doubt this will be one of the features of the discussion.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on how many occasions His Majesty's representative in Peking has been received by the Chinese Government; and what was the effect of the last interview.

Fourteen. The last occasion was on the 8th March when Mr. L. H. Lamb, who has succeeded Sir John Hutchison as His Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires, had an initial interview with the Chinese Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs. The question of our relations with China was reviewed in general terms.

In view of the barbaric attitude of the present Chinese Government towards its own people, who are being publicly executed in hundreds, will the right hon. Gentleman give a categorical assurance that His Majesty's Government will not undertake any conversations on the subject of Formosa behind the backs of the United States and of the United Nations?

If I may say so, I think that is a little unrealistic and I had better not give such an undertaking.

Is the Foreign Secretary satisfied that our representative in Peking is obtaining proper access to any British prisoners who may be in Chinese hands?

That question had better be put down; I would not like to answer it at the moment.

Are His Majesty's Government considering appeasement on the subject of Formosa? [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh!"] Surely we are entitled to an answer.

With great respect, the hon. Member is not entitled to information on matters about which he has not put Questions on the Order Paper.

Will the right hon. Gentleman tell the House what was the outcome of the last discussion which took place between the Minister and the British representative?

No. Sir.

Answer.

On a point of order. With great respect, I put a question to the Foreign Secretary—[HON. MEMBERS: "He answered."]—I am addressing Mr. Speaker—I put a question to the Foreign Secretary which was quite relevant to the original Question. May I have a reply please?

It is quite within my discretion whether I reply or not. As a matter of fact I did reply.

What was the reply?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware of the unsatisfactory arrangements for handling passengers at Nairobi West Airport; and if he contemplates any improvements in the near future.

As the result of very considerable expansion of traffic at this airport, which is used by local services only, passenger handling facilities are now inadequate. The question of aerodrome facilities generally for Nairobi is at present under consideration and until a final decision is reached the Kenya Government consider that capital expenditure on improvements at Nairobi West would not be justified.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is no water-borne sanitation at this aerodrome and that the sanitary arrangements generally are of the most primitive kind? Will he make representations to the Kenya Government to effect an improvement at the earliest date, even if it is only a temporary improvement?

Yes; as I have said, the aerodrome facilities generally are under consideration by the Kenya Government.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will cause immediate inquiry to be made as to the present methods of collecting mail in Jamaica for transfer to British Overseas Airways Corporation services to the United Kingdom, in order to improve the dates of collection and delivery and enable the service from Jamaica to the United Kingdom to be as speedy as that in the reverse direction.

No, Sir. The Acting Governor of Jamaica is satisfied that the system of collecting mails in Jamaica for onward transmission by the B.O.A.C. services is satisfactory. If the hon. Member has in mind any specific case of delay perhaps he will let me have the particulars for investigation.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that it takes five days longer for a letter to be collected and delivered in the United Kingdom than it takes for a letter to be sent from the United Kingdom and delivered in Jamaica?

I was not aware of that, but I will make investigations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress has been made in increasing the broadcasting range and facilities in Hong Kong; and if he is satisfied that adequate efforts have been made to overcome the difficulties of transmission in this Colony, in view of its importance as a means of getting our propaganda to the people of China.

The effective range of the Hong Kong broadcasting service is the area of the Colony itself. I am assured that its transmitting facilities are adequate for the purposes of the local service. Broadcasts from this country to China and other countries of the Far East are relayed, as the hon. Member will be aware, through Malaya, not through Hong Kong.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that it is most important to have as an auxiliary to the Malayan service—which is not coming into full use for a number of months—the Hong Kong broadcasting station, which could be easily extended at a small cost for use in broadcasting to China? May I apologise to the hon. Member opposite who looks on this as his own preserve, for raising the matter?

I could not agree that it could be done at small cost. The new transmitter in Malaya will be in use very shortly and we think it will be adequate.

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that his answer is quite unrealistic and that the station in Singapore to which he refers is a short-wave station? If Southern China is to be affected by our broadcasts that can only be done from Hong Kong by medium wave?

No, I do not accept that view.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many of the men arrested in Singapore in January last are still detained; and when they are to be brought up for trial.

Fifteen of the 39 persons arrested in January are still detained. The evidence against these is still under examination, and it is not therefore possible to confirm that charges will be preferred.

Is the Minister aware that the arrest of many of these men, who are held in high public esteem, is causing a great deal of concern, both to Malays in this country, and to the people in Singapore and the Colonies? As wide publicity was given to the allegations against these men at the time of their arrest, will an opportunity be given them to defend themselves in open court?

As I have said, the evidence is now being examined. I am very anxious that the examination of this evidence shall be completed as soon as possible and the matter brought to a head.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the continued detention of these men in prison is causing a great deal of concern and damaging healthy democratic movements in Malaya?

I quite understand the concern, but I am sure my hon. Friend realises that in this area it is of the utmost importance to take measures of this kind.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if a decision has now been reached on the future of the Colonial Development Corporation's poultry farming project in the Gambia.

No, Sir. The Corporation's review of the project is not yet sufficiently advanced for them to be able to inform me of their proposals.

Can the Minister say when he hopes to make a statement, as there is great public anxiety about this matter?

No, I shall make a statement as soon as I receive the proposals from the Corporation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many acres of wattle were sown in the Colonial Development Corporation's plantation in the Njombe district of Tanganyika in 1950; and how many he expects to be sown in 1951.

I would invite the hon. Member to refer this inquiry to the Corporation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what further information he has now received from Bermuda on the question of racial discrimination; and what is the nature of his reply to Mrs. Evelyn MacLaurin who forwarded him details of this discrimination.

I cannot reply to Mrs. MacLaurin until I have the Governor's comments on her letter, of which I am sending him a copy. When a reply is sent I will at the same time communicate with my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware of the hardship and disappointment caused to colonial students by the closing of British Council hostels at Leeds and Manchester; and, in view of the need of securing adequate accommodation for these students, what action he proposes to take to see the need is met.

I am aware that the British Council's hostels at Manchester and Leeds are to be closed. I am assured by the British Council that they are able to make alternative arrangements for the small number of colonial students who will thus be displaced.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the closing of these two hostels has caused a considerable amount of disquiet among colonial students in this country? The latest information until recently was that the hostel for girls was about to be closed; that has now been revoked. Could there not be some stability in this matter? Has my right hon. Friend been in contact with the British Council about it?

Yes. In these hostels only about 14 out of a total of 33 students have been displaced. I am told by the British Council that they are satisfied that alternative arrangements can be made for these colonial students.

Can my right hon. Friend say why these hostels have been closed? Is it in the interests of economy? If so, is it expected that more hostels, which are so important to these colonial students, will be closed?

When I am not satisfied that the British Council can make alternative accommodation available, I will take action, but I am assured that they can provide alternative accommodation.

Has my right hon. Friend been in recent contact with the British Council on this matter? If not would he get in touch with them?

I have been in contact with the Council since my hon. Friend put down his Question. If he has any further information, I shall be glad to receive it. I am very anxious to see that the arrangements made for these colonial students are the best possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why 66 students of medicine and dentistry have been transferred from Guam to the Central Medical School at Suva, Fiji; what are the nationalities of the students; and what is the total number of places available at the Central Medical School.

These arrangements were made to overcome difficulties resulting from the transfer of responsibility for Guam from the U.S. Navy Department to the Department of the Interior. The students accepted came from United States Trust Territories in the Pacific. Special arrangements were made to accommodate these students in addition to the normal number of students at the school. In 1949, the latest year for which information is available, there were 44 students and an additional 50 students were expected in 1950.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is a strong local belief that dental and medical education for the people there are being cut down to accommodate the United States? Is there any truth in that belief?

No, I have had no representations of that kind, and there is certainly no truth in such a belief.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what action has been taken or is contemplated in respect of compensation for damage caused to property during the recent disturbances in Grenada.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement about the present situation in Grenada.

I am glad to report that as a result of the negotiations between the Agricultural Employers' Society and the Grenada Mental and Manual Workers' Union, under independent chairmanship, settlement has been reached between the parties concerned and was embodied in a formal agreement signed on 9th April. Similar agreement between employers and the Trade Union Council may be signed this week. The favourable outcome of these negotiations will, I trust, lay the basis for the settlement of any future differences by methods of negotiation and conciliation. The question whether there are grounds for any ex gratia payments for rehabilitation in cases of special hardship is one for the Grenada Government.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that much of the damage caused was aggravated by the failure of the police to deal with the situation, a fact borne out by the dismissal of the police chief; and is there not a clear moral obligation on the authorities to give speedy and effective compensation?

There is no legal responsibility, that is clear. As I have said, the question of whether there should be an ex gratia payment is one for the local government to consider and decide.

As the preservation of law and order is and will remain of the utmost importance, is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that the police forces in the Island are adequate? Will he look again at the question of the re-formation of the West Indian Regiment to play its part there and elsewhere in the preservation of law and order?

I am giving consideration to that and to every other aspect of the problem in consultation with the Governor.

Will my right hon. Friend use his influence to see that where compensation payments are made, or contemplated, hardship should not arise to those persons receiving payment?

I have said that that is a matter for the local Government to decide.

Can the Secretary of State say how many prosecutions have taken place in connection with the disorders?

Not without notice.

Will the terms of the agreement when settled be published, and, if so, will the right hon. Gentleman cause a copy to be laid in the Library?

Yes, Sir. The agreement has not yet reached me, but I will consider putting a copy in the Library when I have received it.

asked the Prime Minister if, in view of the fact that the central object of British foreign policy is to establish and maintain international peace, he will consider, in this year of the Festival of Britain, taking steps to re-name the Foreign Office the Peace Office and to change the designation of Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to that of Secretary of State for Peace.

I have been asked to reply. No, Sir. The name of the Foreign Office is well established and understood and my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister sees no reason to make a change. The Department's present name is not inconsistent with its functions as the Department of peace.

Bearing in mind that my right hon. Friend, in his capacity as Foreign Secretary has already stated that his Department is the Department of peace, does not he think that such a striking change of nomenclature at the present time might have a heartening effect on the peoples of the Western world, who are now so depressed at the many signs of approaching war?

I do not think so, Sir. As a matter of fact, I did have the point in mind when I added the last paragraph to the answer to the Question.

Does the right hon. Gentleman intend to consider relinquishing his own title of "Lord Festival" and taking that of "Lord Peace"?

I should very much like to enjoy both of them.

Would not the inevitable impression conveyed to Soviet Russia by such a change be that we were in favour of peace at any price?

Could not the right hon. Gentleman at least make this concession to the hon. Member asking the Question: in future, could not the doves of peace be represented by males of the domestic fowl?

asked the Prime Minister whether, in the interests of all sides, he will move for the appointment of a Royal Commission to inquire into the effects of Freemasonry on the political, religious, social and administrative life of the country.

I have been asked to reply. No, Sir. This is not a matter for which the Government are responsible, and my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister does not think that an inquiry of this kind would be appropriate.

As I have received a large number of letters on this question might it not be good for freemasons themselves if, apart altogether from their rites and ceremonies, the suspicions and accusations concerning their influence on personal appointments and interference with our constitutional institutions were brought to the light of day?

I understand the point made by my hon. Friend, but I really think we have enough trouble without starting any more.

Would not such an inquiry be an infringement of human liberties?

asked the Prime Minister whether the speech of the Secretary of State for the Home Department at South Shields on 8th April on the question of the control of General MacArthur represents the policy of His Majesty's Government.

I have been asked to reply. I would ask the hon. Member to await the statement I will make after Questions, from which he will see that my right hon. Friend's remarks represent broadly the views of His Majesty's Government.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Home Secretary stated, "We cannot control General MacArthur because we do not pay him"; that that is both offensive and untrue and that it is high time His Majesty's Government, including the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary, took responsibility for the foreign policy of this country, and dealt with the United States of America in the way in which the right hon. Member for Woodford (Mr. Churchill) and President Roosevelt did in the last war?

I would suggest to the hon. Gentleman that if I am not offended with my right hon. Friend, I do not see why he should be.