§ EARL WINTERTON (Sussex, Horsham)I beg to ask the Frist Lord of the Admiralty whether he proposes to take steps to ascertain the name of the officer who, in defiance of regulations, recently communicated to a newspaper an account of an alleged incident in the Channel Fleet; and whether, in the event of the name of the officer being discovered, he will be tried by court martial.
§ MR. McKENNAI am not aware what grounds the noble Lord has for imputing a breach of honour to any naval officer. If he will state them or communicate them to me privately, I will investigate them. They are quite unknown to me.
§ EARL WINTERTONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that I make no allegation of breach of honour, but rather of breach of regulations? I desire to give notice that, in view of the answer given, I shall raise the matter on the Second Heading of the Appropriation Bill.
§ MR. McKENNAThe noble Lord's Question asks whether we propose to take steps to ascertain the name of the officer who, in defiance of regulations, recently communicated to a newspaper an account of an alleged incident in the Channel Fleet. In my judgment it 1745 would be a breach of honour for an officer to communicate such a matter to the Press.
§ EARL WINTERTONDoes not the right hon. Gentleman think that that is entirely a matter of opinion? My Question was directed to the matter of fact.
§ MR. BELLAIRSDoes the right hon. Gentleman propose to hold any inquiry to ascertain how this information leaked out to the papers?
§ *MR. SPEAKERNotice should be given of that Question.