January 22, 1942 (19th Parliament, 3rd Session)

Right Hon. W. L. MACKENZIE KING (Prime Minister):

Perhaps my hon. friend will allow me to say a word as there is some responsibility on the part of the government as a whole in a matter of this kind. As a matter of special privilege my hon. friend has asked for permission to make a statement. I took no exception to my hon. friend so doing, but I wish he had been careful to refrain from using words in his statement that I do not think were at all justified. He referred to the statement made yesterday by my colleague, the Minister of National Defence (Mr. Ralston), as a subtle statement. I am sure that any hon. members of the house who listened to the statement of the Minister of Defence regarded it as a very straightforward, honest and frank statement, and I would add that my hon. friend in his reply yesterday, unless I misunderstood him, more or less so^ designated it, but since that time he has evidently been receiving information from outside sources and to-day has presented us with the result of his further communications with
others. May I say to my hon. friend that the government will certainly grant, and grant immediately, a committee of investigation into this matter. We welcome the opportunity of so doing, and the committee will be granted just as soon as opportunity permits.