§ 3. Mr. PETOasked whether, in respect to the Board of Trade notice to masters and owners of British merchant vessels which has been issued at the request of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, directing the attention of masters and owners of British merchant vessels to the necessity for arranging for periodical practices in wireless telegraphy communications between His Majesty's ships of war and ships of the British mercantile marine for the purpose of ensuring efficient and reliable communication when required, the First Lord of the Admiralty is aware of the fact that there are aliens commanding and officering ships of the 420 British mercantile marine; and whether he is aware that this being so confidential wireless messages of the greatest importance to the country may, in time of war more especially, become known to those aliens in our ships; and whether he proposes to take any steps to prevent this by way of ensuring that none but British subjects shall command or officer British ships?
Mr. LAMBERTThe notice in question has been issued with the object of ensuring that any communications which may be considered desirable between the Royal Navy and the mercantile marine may be efficient and reliable when the occasion arises. No inference is to be drawn from this as to the distribution of confidential information. The question raised by the hon. Member as to the officering of British ships should, I suggest, be addressed to my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade.
Captain FABERWere not the "Australia" and "New Zealand" supposed to be ready in February, 1913, instead of April, 1913, and does not that make them three months late?