§ MR. GOURLEYI beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty if it is true that the Italian Government intend instructing the Commanders of the Squadron of Men of War, which are to take part in the forthcoming International Naval Demonstration at New York, to pay a complimentary visit to Plymouth and Devonport, in return for those visits recently made by the British Mediterranean Squadron to some of the Italian ports; if so, is it the intention of the Admiralty to provide similar arrangements to those accorded to the officers and men of the French Fleet when they visited Portsmouth in 1865 and 1891; and will he also state what complimentary arrangements are contemplated on the part of the Government with regard to the class and number of vessels by which Great Britain is to be represented at the forthcoming United States International Naval Féte?
THE SECRETARY TO THE ADMIRALTY (Sir U. KAY-SHUTTLEWORTH,) Lancashire, ClitheroeInformation has reached Her Majesty's Government that the Italian Government do not propose to send a Squadron to this country. In answer to my hon. Friend's second question, I have to inform the House that the Commander - in - Chief on the North American Station will attend the Review with some of the ships of his Squadron, and that the question whether any additional ships will be sent out is under consideration at the Admiralty.