§ 48. Mr. MOLTENOasked whether, before gifts of war vessels are accepted from Protectorates, Crown Colonies, and Dependencies, an opportunity will be afforded to the House of Commons of considering the obligations imposed upon the people of the United Kingdom by their acceptance?
§ 57. Mr. DOUGLAS HALLasked whether the Government have any information as to an offer by the ruling princes of India of the gift of a fleet of warships to the Imperial Government?
§ 58. Mr. LOUGHasked the Prime Minister, with regard to the alleged offer of a large fleet of battleships for the assistance of Imperial defence by Indian chiefs, whether the Government or the Indian Administration have had any previous knowledge of the proposal or have given it any encouragement; and whether, having regard to the cost of subsequent maintenance, the effect on international relations, and the possibility of such schemes being organised by large financial interests which are engaged in the supply of ships or armaments, he can see his way to intimate on behalf of the Government that no future offers of this kind will be entertained from private individuals or from Colonial Administrations not founded on a representative basis?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe Government have no information as to any such offer as that referred to in Question 57. It follows that Question 58 is hypothetical, but I cannot give any such undertaking as is there suggested. The House will have the regular opportunities of discussing and deciding upon the whole of the Naval Estimates when they are presented in the usual way, and no charge or increase in the total charge to the taxpayer is possible without Parliamentary sanction.
§ Colonel YATEWith reference to Question 58, may I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman will intimate to the Government of India the Government's permission to arm vessels of the Royal Indian Marine, and so afford the people of India an opportunity of strengthening the Imperial Forces in the Indian seas in the way they may desire?
§ The PRIME MINISTERPerhaps the hon. and gallant Gentleman will give me I notice of that question; I cannot answer it without.
§ 41. Mr. KEIR HARDIEasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he has any information concerning a gift from certain ruling princes in India to the British Navy of one battleship and nine cruisers of an estimated value of £20,000,000 sterling; and if not, what action he proposes taking to prevent the circulation to the Press of false statements calculated to give annoyance to ruling chiefs in India?
Mr. BAKERThe answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. As regards the second, the Secretary of State does not consider that any action is required.