§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSON (Dundee)I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the date of the contract to purchase the Chilian warships; what was the date and the amount of the first payment; whether the Treasury had any legal authority for making such payment; and whether he will lay upon the Table a copy of any correspondence on the subject between the Treasury and the Admiralty.
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN,) Worcestershire, E.The date of the contract was 2nd December, 1903. The date of the first payment was 23rd December, and the amount was a sum of £67,000 each to Messrs. Vickers, Sons and Maxim, Ltd., and to Messrs. Armstrong, Whitworth and Co. The matter was decided by the Cabinet, and there was no preliminary correspondence prior to the conclusion of the agreement.
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONThe right hon. Gentleman has not answered that part of the Question which asks whether the Treasury had any legal authority for making the first payment.
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINI have already explained to the House, more than once, the circumstances under which I took upon myself the responsibility of sanctioning this expenditure in anticipation of the Parliamentary approval, which has since been given.