REPORT DENIED

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 143, 3 April 1950, Page 3

REPORT DENIED

NO INFORMATION FOR MR STRACHEY CONFIDENTIAL MILITARY 1 MATTERS (N.Z.P.A.—Copyright) X (Rec. 11.15 a.m.) LONDON, April 2. A sensational report that the British and United States military chiefs had arranged to keep highly confidential military and scientific information from the British Secretary for War, Mr John Strachcy, was circulated last night, by the American News Agency, Associated Press. As soon as the cable reached London from The Hague, No. 10 Downing Street issued a formal denial, describing it as “completely untrue.” .* The Associated Press then cancelled its report “pending a further check,” hut a few minutes later said: “The story may now be reinstated.”

The British Minister for Defence, Mr Emanuel Shinwell, and the United States Defence Secretary, Mr Louis Johnson, to-day vigorously and indignantly denied the report. Mr Johnson and Mr Shinwell, who attended a meeting of the Atlantic Pact Defence Ministers at The Hague, made a joint denial. Mr Shinwell said: “I vigorously deny this story. In fact, Mr Strachey’s name has not been mentioned officially or unofficially in the discussions. The whole story is sheer nonsense.”

Mr Johnson broke in with: “That is correct. No such policy has been discussed by my Government.” Mr Shinwell added: “Mr Strachey will, as Secretary of State for War, continue to receive the same information, as was made available to me when I was in his position.