67. MARQUESS of TULLIBARDINEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty upon what date the Prime Minister was first aware of the order regarding the subsidiary movements of the 3rd Battle Squadron and the two divisions of the 4th Flotilla?
§ The FIRST LORD of the ADMIRALTY (Mr. Churchill)I must refer the Noble Lord to the reply I gave to the Noble Lord the Member for Portsmouth on Wednesday last, in which I stated that the movements were authorised by the Cabinet on the 11th March.
MARQUESS of TULLIBARDINEMay I ask if the Prime Minister was informed of it or knew of it at the time?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe Prime Minister presided at the Cabinet on that occasion.
MARQUESS of TULLIBARDINEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Prime Minister in a letter to the Press on Monday week stated that there were only two cruisers ordered?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe movements were of a general character and did not relate to the specific movements for reinforcing the depots with regard to which the Prime Minister's communication was issued.
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI explained very fully to the House the reason why the ships were stopped was because no emergency had arisen out of the movement which had been successfully accomplished, and because of the prevailing excitement their movement might have been misconstrued.
Mr. F. HALL (Dulwich)May I ask whether the Prime Minister actually knew of this movement before instructions were given for the movement of the squadron or was only informed of it afterwards?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLAt the Cabinet, on 11th March, a week or ten days before the movement actually begun, authority was given by the Cabinet for such a movement to be made, the Prime Minister being present at the time.
§ 72. Mr. FELLasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if the Mediterranean Fleet has been ordered home suddenly; and if it is usual for this Fleet to come home for Easter leave?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLSir, there is no truth in the report.