2. Mr. DENNISSasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, at a conference presided over by His Majesty the King of Greece, M. Venizelos was authorised to purchase a battleship from a South American State; whether such purchase has been completed; and whether this addition to the men-of-war in the Mediterranean will be taken into account on the Estimates for providing a sufficient naval force to protect British interest in that sea?
§ Mr. ACLANDHis Majesty's Government have no knowledge of the conference referred to, and, so far as they are aware, no such purchase has been completed.