Captain FABERasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will state whether Article 12 of the King's Regulations, in which all persons belonging to the Fleet are forbidden to publish or cause to be published, directly or indirectly, in a newspaper any matter relative to the public service, is still in force; and whether, if so, they are Admiralty instructions?
The FIRST LORD of the ADMIRALTY Mr. McKenna)Article 12 of the King's Regulations is still in force, though the terms thereof are not correctly set out by the hon. Member. The King's Regulations are the Admiralty instructions, as sanctioned by His Majesty in Council.
§ Mr. McKENNANo; the First Sea Lord is not a person belonging to the Fleet.
Captain FABERCan the First Sea Lord enter into correspondence with the Press when he chooses in his own office?
§ Mr. McKENNAThat is another question, but I do not think it arises under Article 12.
§ Mr. McKENNANo, I will not undertake to make inquiry of the First Sea Lord.
Captain FABERasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will state how many copies of the fourth letter in the Bacon-Mann series, mentioned by Sir George Armstrong in his letter of 19th June, were printed; and how many were circulated from the Admiralty?
§ Mr. McKENNAI regret that I can add nothing to what I have already said on this subject.
§ Mr. McKENNAI think the hon. Gentleman had better address the question to Sir George Armstrong.
Captain FABERDoes the right hon. Gentleman still maintain that Sir George Armstrong was paid to get these letters?
§ Mr. McKENNANo; I never suggested that Sir George Armstrong was paid.
§ Mr. REESWhat is the position of Sir George Armstrong in these matters? What is his copyright in Bacon's essays?
§ Mr. CHARLES CRAIGDoes the right hon. Gentleman refuse to give the information asked for because he cannot get it, or because he thinks it undesirable in the public interest?
§ Mr. McKENNAI have nothing to add to what I have said.
Captain FABERasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether his attention has been called to an extract from a printed letter, written during the month following the publication of Captain Bacon's letters, by a junior captain of the Fleet to the First Sea Lord, and referred to by Sir George Armstrong on 19th June, in which the writer says that he returned the papers to the First Sea Lord's secretary; and if he will state whether the First Sea Lord still adheres to his statement that the letters referred to were not circulated?
§ Mr. McKENNAI have nothing further to say on this subject.