§ MR. T. C. THOMPSONasked the First Lord of the Treasury, If the attention of Government has been called to a notice from the Greek Consul that torpedoes have been laid down for practice in the Gulf of Corinth; and, if the Government will endeavour to put a stop to the use amongst civilized nations of these secret weapons in naval warfare?
MR. GLADSTONESir, I have no reason to suppose that the statement referred to by the hon. Member is incorrect. With regard to the latter part of the Question, Her Majesty's Government have certainly not formed any intention of negotiating with foreign Governments on the subject of torpedoes 820 as being secret instruments of warfare, for this reason if for no other, that there are other secret instruments of warfare, such as mines and countermines, and that it would be very difficult to sanction the one description and prohibit the other.