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Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 October 1943, Page 3

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PROPOSED BY CHURCHILL TO REPORTED CHARGES AGAINST BRITAIN. ATTRIBUTED TO AMERICAN. SENATORS. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, October 19. Mr. Churchill, answering a question in the House of Commons as to whether his attention had been called to specific charges of unfair action and/or bad faith made against the British in their report to Congress by the five United States Senators who recently visited the fighting areas of Europe and Africa, and whether, to avoid the diffusion of ill-will, he would place on record the British views of the facts, said: ‘The report on the question was made to Congress in secret session. I therefore am neither fully aware nor accurately acquainted with its nature. “A summary of the conclusions reached by the Snators has been printed in the record of the United States Senate. These conclusions bring no charges of the kind referred to. However, apart from the above, 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 part in this wordy warfare, specially at a time when the British and United States armies are engaged shoulder to shoulder in the battles taking place or impending on the Italian front, and when the R.A.F. and the Eighth United States Air Force, in perfect brotherhood in arms, are making heavy sacrifices in attacks on 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.” BROADCAST BY SENATOR SOME STATEMENTS DENIED. LONDON. October 20. One of the party of five Senators who made the tour of the battlefronts, Senator Mead, in a broadcast from Washington last night denied some statements which had been attributed to him after his return. His is the first public statement by any member of the party since they got back.

He said that, contrary to Press reports, he was completely satisfied with the conduct of the war in the Pacific. He also praised Mr. Churchill’s leadership and the courage of the British people.