MR. W. E. PRICEsaid, he would beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty, Whether, as medals have been given for the Abyssinian, Umbeyla, and New Zealand Campaigns, he does not consider that a medal should also be granted for the two General Naval Actions of Kagosima and Simonosaki in Japan?
§ MR. CHILDERSIn reply, Sir, to my hon. Friend I have to say that on no subject should more caution be exercised than as to the grants of medals or clasps for particular expeditions or actions. In the first place, it is necessary for the Admiralty to act in harmony with the War Office in respect of medals for actions on land; and, secondly, it is important not to make medals too cheap. Now, I find that since the Peace of 1815 no medals were issued for the naval operations between 1834 and 1840 on the coast of Spain, for the operations in the Persian Gulf of 1821, for the action at Lagos in 1852, and particularly for Sir Charles Hotham's expedition up the Parana in 1845. I am not prepared to say that the actions at Kagosima and Simonosaki are of so much greater importance than those I have mentioned as to justify me in recommending to Her Majesty the grant of a medal for them; 1480 and I am, therefore, unable to give an affirmative reply to my hon. Friend.