asked the Minister for Defence if he will state whether the Chief of Staff during a recent visit to the British War Office discussed with the British military authorities any matters relating to the defence of this country in the event of a war in which the British Government may be involved; and, if so, whether he will make a statement concerning these discussions and indicate the nature of the instructions issued to the Chief of Staff previous to his visit to London.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Defensive Measures.
The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative; the second part does not, therefore, arise.
The Minister is aware that reports have appeared in the papers to the effect that the Chief of Staff has been in Britain and in contact with high British officers. Am I to take it from his reply that this visit had absolutely no official significance?
That would be quite incorrect. The visit had official significance. The Chief of Staff went over to purchase equipment for our Army, as is customary. On this occasion very kindly, and I think I should express our apprecaition of it, he was invited to be the guest of the British Army; but his business purely dealt with the purchase of equipment.