§ Mr. ASHLEYasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that many German merchant ships carry small guns, and that the captains have their commissions, pennants, and uniforms ready for an emergency; and, if so, what steps have been taken to protect the British mercantile marine, especially on those stations from which many of our small craft have been removed?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe Admiralty does not consider that it is in the public interest to make any statement as to the information we possess on the subject matter of the question or as to the course it is proposed to adopt for the protection of commerce. I must not be understood to assent to the correctness of the hon. Gentleman's information.
§ Mr. ASHLEYArising out of the answer, can the right hon. Gentleman state, without injury to the public interest, what steps the Admiralty are taking to guard against this danger?
§ Mr. McKENNAThat is exactly what I think undesirable to make public.
§ Mr. CHARLES CRAIGDid I understand the right hon. Gentleman to say he must be taken as assenting or dissenting to the correctness of the information?
§ Mr. McKENNAI am not assenting.
§ Mr. ASHLEYDoes the right hon. Gentleman deny that the facts are as stated in the question?
§ Mr. McKENNAWe are very reluctant to give information on the point. I can only repeat I must not be taken as assenting to the accuracy of the statements in the question.