Oral Answers to Questions — British Embassy Staff, Ankara (MR. W. E. D. Allen)

– in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 3 March 1948.

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Photo of Mr John Platts-Mills Mr John Platts-Mills , Finsbury 12:00, 3 March 1948

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what are the pay and allowances attaching to the post of Head of the Information Department of the British Embassy at Ankara, at present occupied by Mr. W. E. D. Allen.

Photo of Mr Ernest Bevin Mr Ernest Bevin , Wandsworth Central

Mr. W. E. D. Allen receives a salary of£1,320 per annum and a Foreign Service allowance of£1,950 per annum.

Photo of Mr John Platts-Mills Mr John Platts-Mills , Finsbury

Is my hon. Friend aware that the gentleman to whom the Question relates was a distinguished, active and leading propagandist for Mosley and Fascism——

Photo of Mr John Platts-Mills Mr John Platts-Mills , Finsbury

—and that, in his own private name and in an assumed name——

Photo of Mr Douglas Clifton Brown Mr Douglas Clifton Brown , Hexham

I am not clear whether the hon. Gentleman is attacking a civil servant by saying that he was a leading propagandist for Mosley. If so, it is quite wrong for him to say that.

Hon. Members:

Withdraw.

Photo of Mr John Platts-Mills Mr John Platts-Mills , Finsbury

I hope you will accept my assurance, Mr. Speaker, that my attack is not on the unfortunate Mr. Allen. I wish to conclude my question. Does not the Foreign Secretary know that to appoint a man with such a record to such a delicate position exposes both the man and my right hon. Friend——

Photo of Mr Douglas Clifton Brown Mr Douglas Clifton Brown , Hexham

The attack must be made on the Foreign Secretary, and not on anybody whom he may have appointed to any special position.

Photo of Mr John Platts-Mills Mr John Platts-Mills , Finsbury

Is it not perfectly clear that the appointment of this man exposes both my right hon. Friend and the man himself to very embarrassing criticisms?

Photo of Mr Ernest Bevin Mr Ernest Bevin , Wandsworth Central

I understand that this gentleman who has been appointed, for which I accept responsibility, owes no allegiance to any other country.

Hon. Members:

Hear, hear.

Photo of Mr William Gallacher Mr William Gallacher , Fife Western

That shows that there is something rotten in the state of Denmark.

Photo of Sir Edward Keeling Sir Edward Keeling , Twickenham

Reverting to the original Question and answer, would it not be a good thing if the hon. Member looked up these figures in the Estimates in the Library, instead of boring us with them?

Photo of Mr Luke Teeling Mr Luke Teeling , Brighton

Is the Foreign Secretary also aware that Mr. Allen wrote what is probably the best book about Georgia, and is one of the best authorities on that area?

Photo of Mr Ernest Bevin Mr Ernest Bevin , Wandsworth Central

I do not think I should be called upon to answer for either the virtues or faults of my staff, and I do not want to be led into that on either side.

Photo of Mr Douglas Clifton Brown Mr Douglas Clifton Brown , Hexham

I do not think it is worth pursuing the matter any further, as the Foreign Secretary has made it quite clear.

At the end of Questions

Photo of Sir Henry Legge-Bourke Sir Henry Legge-Bourke , Isle of Ely

In view of the fact that the gentleman mentioned in Question No. 7 has an extremely distinguished war record behind him, would it be possible, Mr. Speaker, for you to rule that the first supplementary question asked by the hon. Member for Finsbury (Mr. Platts-Mills) should be erased from the OFFICIAL REPORT?

Photo of Mr Douglas Clifton Brown Mr Douglas Clifton Brown , Hexham

I certainly cannot rule anything of the sort. I have no business or authority to do so. After all, what any hon. Member says is his responsibility, and therefore it should go down in the OFFICIAL REPORT so that we can judge of it.