ANGLO-FRENCH FORCES

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 139, 15 June 1939, Page 10

ANGLO-FRENCH FORCES

SUPREME COMMAND

QUESTIONS IN COMMONS

(British Official Wireless.)

(Received June 15, 1.50 p.m.)

RUGBY, June 14,

Mr. Arthur Henderson (Labour) asked the Prime Minister in the House of Commons if it was the Government's policy to consent.to the appointment of a French general as supreme commander of the British and French armed forces in the event of war.

Mr. Chamberlain replied that the question of co-ordination of the command of the forces in various theatres in which his Majesty's forces might be called upon to co-operate with the French in the event of war had necessarily formed part of the conversations between the representatives of the two countries, but it would not be in the public interest to give information as to a particular aspect of these conversations.

Mr. Henderson then asked if the Premier was aware of the fact that the French Press had stated that this policy had been determined and that Marshal Gamelin had been designated supreme commander. Were they to understand that those statements were correct? he asked.

Mr. Chamberlain rejoined: "The honourable member must not take every statement he sees in the Press to be correct."

Lieutenant-Colonel R. T. H. Fletcher (Labour) next asked if Mr. Chamberlain could give an assurance that in the event of such an appointment it would be made in such a manner that the French Commander-in-Chief would be responsible to some inter-Allied body and not to France alone.

Mr. Chamberlain replied: "I do not think it would be in the public interest to discuss this matter."