HISTORY OF SUEZ WAR

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28766, 11 December 1958, Page 19

HISTORY OF SUEZ WAR

Labour. Appeal Rejected IN.Z. Press Assoeiatten—Comma'll) LONDON, December 9. Sir Winston Churchill set unconcernedly in the House of Commons today as the Prime Minister (Mr Macmillan) * refused to appoint an official historian of the Suer war.

Thia had been suggested, along with an alternative all-party committee to inquire into the conduct of the Suez campaign, by the Labour Opposition. Mr Emrys Hughes, who sought an historian, said there was renewed interest in Suez as a result of a Foreign Office spokesman's attack on Mr Randolph Churchill “on the grounds that his history is inaccurate.” Mr Churchill's review of the Suez operations, contained in a book about Sir Anthony Eden, who was Prime Minister at the time, have been serialised in a national newspaper. Mr Macmillan said the military operations, strategy and tactics had been dealt with by the dispatches of the officer-in-command (General Sir Charles Keightley). published in 1957. The Leader of the Opposition (Mr Hugh Gaitskell) asked how it was that the Foreign Office spokesman had said there were inaccuracies in Mr Randolph Churchill’s articles. -Net Criticism” Mr Macmillan replied: “The intention of the Government spokesman was not to criticise the author, but to make it clear that, as this was a biography written without consultation with the subject and without access to official records, it could not be expected to give an authentic or fully accurate account” ’■ Labour's chief spokesman on foreign affairs (Mr Bevan) asked why Mr Macmillan was “so coy” about an inquiry. Was he afraid of what might be revealed about himself? Mr Macmillan: No sir. I shall welcome, when the time cornea—it may be sooner than you think —to put these matters to the in-

—to put these matters to the inquest of the nation. The Prime Minister was here taken to be referring to a general election. Mr Gaitskell said Mr Churchill had alleged “quite clearly” that there was collusion both between the French and Israel Governments and between the British and French Governments. The matter could not be cleared, up except by a full inquiry. The Prime Minister: There is no statement that was made at the time that was not debated and rebutted at the time.