SENATORS’ CHARGES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25364, 23 October 1943, Page 6

SENATORS’ CHARGES

UNFAIR ACTIONS BY BRITAIN STATEMENT BY MR CHURCHILL RUGBY, Oct. 19. In the House of Commons to-day Mr Churchill replied to a question whether his attention had been called to specific charges of unfair action and of bad faith made against the British in their report to Congress by five United States Senators, who recently visited the fighting areas of Europe and Africa, and whether, to avoid diffusion and ill-will, he would place on record the British views of the facts. “The report on the question was made to Congress in a secret session,” Mr Churchill said. “ I am, therefore, neither fully aware nor accurately acquainted with its nature. A summary of the conclusions reached by the Senators has been printed in the records of the United States Senate. These conclusions bring no charges of the kind referred to. “Apart from the above, however, many stories have been published purporting to present what individual Senators have said. I am well aware of the pain which some of these unfair and probably unauthorised statements have caused.

“ I have carefully considered whether it is my duty to make a public reply, and have come to the conclusion that there would be no advantage in his Majesty’s Government taking any part in this wordy warfare, especially at a time when British and United States armies are engaged shoulder to shoulder in battles taking place or impending on the Italian front, and when the R.A.F. and the Eighth United States Air Force in a perfect brotherhood of arms are making heavy sacrifices in attacks upon Germany. I have, however, caused a full statement of the facts to be drawn up and kept here for the purpose of record, or, if it should be expedient, for publication.”