Captain FABERasked (1) whether the naval Lords of the Admiralty now approve of the ratification of the Declaration of London; and (2) whether the naval Lords were, or were not, given a voice in the matter of the Hague Conference before Sir Edward Fry consented to the Declaration of London?
§ Mr. McKENNAIt would be contrary to practice to refer to the action of individual members of the Board in matters upon which the Board has come to a conclusion. I would point out, however, that Sir Edward Fry was not concerned with the Declaration of London of 1909, but only with the Hague Conference of 1907.
§ Mr. LEEIs it the case that the Board, as a Board, have come to a definite conclusion with regard to the Declaration of London?
§ Mr. McKENNAYes; certainly, the Board have come to a conclusion.
§ Mr. LEEHas the fully constituted Board, as distinguished from the technical Board, composed of the First Lord of the Admiralty and one other member?
§ Mr. McKENNAThere is no distinction between the full Board and the technical Board. All questions do not necessarily go before the full Board at all times, but documents and matters of detail, when a member of the Board wishes, go before the whole Board. All papers, as the hon. Gentleman knows, are ordinarily dealt with under the Minute laid down by the First Lord of the Admiralty and by the Naval Lord concerned in the particular branch of business.
§ Mr. McKENNAFrom memory I could not say.
§ Major ANSTRUTHER-GRAYMay I ask whether the full Board do approve of the Declaration of London?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe Board have approved of the Declaration of London.
§ Major ANSTRUTHER-GRAYNot the full Board?
§ Mr. McKENNAWe do not distinguish. If the hon. Gentleman by "full Board" means whether every member of the Board has agreed, it would be contrary to the public interest to state what the opinion of individual members of the Board may be, and I do not know what they may be, but the members of the Board, as a Board, have agreed.