§ MR. J. O'CONNOR (Tipperary, S.)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will explain why 180 tons of coal were supplied to a German man-of-war (the Princess Wilhelm) at Queenstown early this month by the Admiralty authorities at Queenstown; was it in the power of the coal merchants of Queenstown or Cork to supply the vessel with the required quantity of coal; and is it usual with the Admiralty to supply foreign vessels of war calling at British ports with coals or other necessaries?
§ LORD GEORGE HAMILTONThe German Consul at Queenstown having represented that a certain quantity of coal was urgently required by the Princess Wilhelm, the Admiral commanding at Queenstown authorised the supply of 150 tons from the naval store as an exceptional measure. I am not aware whether the coal could have been supplied by the local 1069 merchants, but it is possible that some delay would have occurred in applying to them. Naval stores are allowed to be issued to foreign men-of-war in cases of emergency, and it would be a shortsighted policy on our part to refuse to foreign nations those friendly offices which international courtesy demands, and from which we on our side also derive benefit.