Coll 5/84(5) ‘FLIGHTS BY FRENCH MILITARY AIRCRAFT OVER India & BURMA EN ROUTE for SAIGON’ [‎3r] (5/394)

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Extract frcma Official Report of the Legislative Assembly Debates
\ Date 7APBl94?
R)'^K of French Bomber Aircrafts at the Hindustan A ircraft
^ Factory An East India Company trading post. at Bangalore
1424. *Sri V. Gangaraju: Will the Honourable Member for External Affairs
be pleased to state•
(a) whether the attention of the Government has been drawn to the letter
of Mr. A. Z. Sheriff published in Blitz, dated the 22nd March;
(b) whether it is a fact that nearly 20 French Bombers are sent for repairs
or over-hauling to the Hindustan Air Craft Factory An East India Company trading post. at Bangalore;
(c) whether Government are aware that the French Bombers are given
priority;
(d) whether Government are aware that the French Bombers are meant for
the suppression of Freedom movement in Indo-China; and
(e) if the answer to (c) and (d) are in affirmative, whether Government
propose to consider the advisability of stopping this practice which is against the.
wishes of the people of India?
The Honourable Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru; I understand that this question
will be answered by the Department of Industries and Supplies on a subsequent
date.
Mr. Manu Subedar; The part which relates to repairs will be answered on a
subsequent date. Whether in view of the declarations of sympathy of this
country towards those whom the French Government want to force into sub
mission, will the Honourable Member tell this House whether he would look into
such cases wherever the previous dBdarrrtionr tried to remain neutral ^nd not
help one side or the other, particularly the aggressor side in case their equipments
come here for repairs?
The Honourable Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru: I am afraid I have not been able
to grasp the Honourable Member’s question, but on the general trend of his
question, I may be permitted to inform the House that we have been exceedingly
careful that nothing should be done on behalf of the Government which might
lead to help being given to the French in carrying on any military operations in
Indo-China. So far as I can say off-hand, there were one or two cases of
hospital planes being sent for repairs to Bangalore. I am not personally aware
of a.single case of bomber being sent for repair. In pursuance of an old standing
contract, some months ago a hospital plane had to be repaired and that could not
be refused. In any event we could distinguish between hospital plane and
■fighting plane. To my knowledge not a single fighting plane was allowed any
facility.