§ * MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANThis morning the newspapers published, some of them in extenso, the memorandum of the First Lord of the Admiralty in explanation of the Navy Estimates. That memorandum has not yet been issued to Members of the House. Will the noble Lord be good enough to explain the circumstances?
* LORD G.HAMILTON150 copies of the memorandum were in the Vote office yesterday, but as that number was not sufficient to complete the distribution among Members, orders were given that the papers should not be handed ont until this morning. Copies of the memorandum were forwarded to the Press at the same time that 150 copies were sent to the Vote office.
§ MR. HOWELLIs it not a fact that orders were given not to deliver the memorandum to Members until the House met to-day at three o'clock?
§ * LORD G. HAMILTONThe orders were not given by me.
§ MR. A. O'CONNORDoes the noble Lord suggest that the newspaper people obtained their copies from the Vote office, or elsewhere?
§ * LORD G. HAMILTONCopies were sent to the newspapers at the same time as 150 copies were sent to the House.