§ MR. BARTLEY (Islington, N.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether Japanese or other foreign war ships are now occupying and have recently occupied docks at Chatham and elsewhere, though at the same time His Majesty's ships are waiting to enter these docks for repairs; and whether, if this is correct, he can state by what authority foreign authorities use His Majesty's dockyards when these docks are urgently needed for the Navy, and whether the practice will be at once put an end to.
§ *MR. PRETYMANNo Japanese or other foreign warship is now occupying any of the docks at the present time, but the Japanese cruiser "Iwate" was recently docked at Chatham. This is a courtesy that has been occasionally granted to Japanese and other foreign ships by the Admiralty. It is always arranged so as not to interfere with the docking of any of His Majesty's ships. I may mention that the Japanese recently extended the same courtesy to us by allowing the "Victorious" to be docked in Japan.