§ MR. KEARLEY (Devonport)I beg to ask the Attorney General whether, inasmuch as His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh has as Duke of Coburg become one of the Sovereign Princes of the German Empire, it is legally competent for him to continue to hold the position and receive the pay of an Admiral of the Fleet in Her Majesty's Navy, or to remain a Member of the Privy Council?
§ * THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (Sir C. RUSSELL,) Hackney, S.In answer to the first portion of this question, I have to say that the Admiralty have been advised that the Duke having assumed a position incompatible with rendering active service should he be called upon, ought not to continue to hold the position or receive the pay of au Admiral. It is proper to add that I understand the Duke does not press any claim for such pay. The concluding portion of the question raises a point of some nicety but of no practical importance, inasmuch as under the system now 775 established the Executive and administrative political work of the Council is under the control of that part of the Privy Council called the Cabinet, and summonses to attend the Privy Council are also under their control.
ADMIRAL FIELDIs there any legal objection to the retention of the illustrious Duke on the Navy List as Honorary Admiral of the Fleet, in the same way as the Emperor of Germany?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. W. E. GLADSTONE,) Edinburgh, MidlothianThe Duke will retain his place upon the Navy List, although without pay and without the capacity for active service. He will retain his place as a mark of honour in respect of his long and distinguished services. It is a matter of great pain to him—his heart always having been in this great profession—that any change that has occurred should have the effect of in any way weakening his relations with the Navy. As to his position in the Privy Council, it is not, in the circumstances of the case, the intention of the Government to offer to the Sovereign any advice with respect to a change.