§ MR. HAROLD COX (Preston)I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the decision to take the Pacific Cable via Fanning Island instead of via Honolulu was made on strategic grounds; and, if so, whether any Report was at any time received from the Admiralty to the effect that a cable via Fanning Island would be easier to defend than a cable via Honolulu; and, if so, whether he will lay that Report upon the Table.
§ MR. CHURCHILLIf the hon. Member will refer to paragraph 7 of the Report of the Pacific Cable Committee, which was presented to Parliament in Command Paper No. 9,247, in April, 1899, he will see that the Committee recommended the Fanning Island route on the ground that the Honolulu route would involve a departure from the principle of using only British territory for landing stations, a principle which had been formally endorsed by the Canadian and Australasian Governments.
§ MR. HAROLD COXsaid the right hon. Gentleman had not stated whether any Report had been received from the Admiralty to the effect that a cable by way of Fanning Island would be easier to defend than a cable by way of Honolulu.
§ MR. CHURCHILLObviously that part of the Question should be addressed to the Civil Lord of the Admiralty.