“SPOKE OUT OF TURN”

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 67, Issue 54, 13 December 1946, Page 3

“SPOKE OUT OF TURN”

Viscount Montgomery Charged LONDON, December 12. The Prime Minister, Mr Attlee, will defend Field Marshal Viscount Montgomery in the House of Commons to-day against the suggestion that he “spoke l out of turn” and exceeded his proper functions during his Middle East tour, says the political correspondent of the “Dally Mail.” Rumours that Viscount Montgomery was recalled are incorrect. Viscount Montgomery denied to Mr Attlee having said in Austria that the Cabinet in introducing conscription Avas influenced by the belief that the national morale would benefit by young' men spending 18 months in the services. Viscount Montgomery is expected 1,0 resume his tour later, but not before the return of Marshal of the R.A.P. Viscount Tedder, now on his way home from the Far East. The “Daily Express” says Mr Attlee does not approve of two Chiefs of Staff being absent from the country at the same time. In denying to Mr Attlee that he made any such statement, Viscount Montgomery said he recognised! it was not his duty to make policy pronouncements and that he had not done so says the political correspondent of the “Daily Herald.” Mr AFtlee, speaking in the House of Commons, said that Viscount Montgomery, during his Middle East tour, made no public statements. He addressed a private meeting of officers, and the substance of this speech was communicated inaccurately to the press. Viscount Montgomery had assured him he did not say that Cabinet, when it introduced conscription, thought that 18 months’ service would benefit the national morale.