§ 20. Mr. KINGasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the policy of arming merchant vessels for possible use in warfare has been considered in its international legal aspects by the Law Officers of the Crown; whether a reasoned legal opinion on the various possibilities that might arise on the use of such armed merchantmen has been given; if so, when; and whether such opinion can now be made public?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe reply to the first part of the question is "yes." As regards the second part of the question, I am advised that it would not be expedient to say more than I have already said on this subject.
§ 21. Mr. KINGasked how many merchantmen have now been equipped with guns for use in war; at what cost this has been achieved; what payments, if any, are annually made to the firms owning these armed merchantmen; and whether any additional merchantmen are to be similarly armed?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLForty vessels engaged in carrying corn and meat have been armed for defensive purposes only. I am unable to give the information asked for in the second part of the question; the comparatively small cost of such structural alterations as have been necessary has been defrayed by the various shipowners. The reply to the third part of the question is that no payments are made by the Admiralty to the firms concerned; and to the fourth part of the question, yes.
§ Mr. KINGIs it the policy of the Admiralty to arm only those ships that are carrying food supplies, and no other kind of merchant vessels?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLYes. The only merchant ships we arm are ships engaged in carrying vital food supplies to this country, and they are only armed for self-protective purposes.
§ Mr. CHURCHILLNo. Any other merchantmen that may be taken up in time of war will be taken over definitely by the Admiralty.