HC Deb 17 May 1915 vol 71 cc1962-4
1. Mr. PETO

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, as regards the formal investigations into the sinking of the "Lusitania" and "Falaba," it is the intention to make parties to these investigations the captains and any other of the executive officers of these vessels; and, if so, whether the Board of Trade, as in the case of the "Titanic," will be prepared to defray the legal costs which will be incurred in the protection of the interests of these officers during the investigations?

The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Runciman)

I am unable at present to say who will be made parties to these investigations. The decision as to the payment of the legal costs of persons indicated in the question, who are made parties by the Board of Trade, will rest with the Court.

Mr. PETO

Will the light hon. Gentleman use his influence to follow the "Titanic" precedent in this matter?

Mr. RUNCIMAN

A matter of that kind must be left entirely to the Court.

14. Lord CHARLES BERESFORD

asked whether His Majesty's ships "Juno" and "Isis" were at Queenstown at the time when the "Lusitania" was sunk; and whether any torpedo boat destroyers were stationed at Queenstown?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the ADMIRALTY (Dr. Macnamara)

My right hon. Friend has nothing to add to the statement he made to the House last Monday.

3. Mr. WILLIAM THORNE

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that between 400 and 500 men of the crew of the "Lusitania" who lost their lives were members of the Sailors' and Firemen's and the Cooks' and Stewards' Unions; and if he can see his way to give either of the two trade unions representation on the Committee of Inquiry?

Mr. RUNCIMAN

The Inquiry into the loss of the "Lusitania" will be held not by a committee but by a Statutory Court consisting of a Wreck Commissioner with skilled assessors. It will be open to the unions to apply to the Wreck Commissioner to appear at the Inquiry, if they desire, but I have no power in the matter.

Lord E. TALBOT

When will the Court sit?

Mr. RUNCIMAN

Preparations are now being made, and the sittings will, I hope, begin within a very short time.

Mr. HOUSTON

I rise to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty a question of which I have given him private notice, whether, in addition to His Majesty's ships, torpedo craft, and patrol vessels lying in Queenstown Harbour and in adjacent harbours at the time the "Lusitania" was sunk, there was a number of destroyers of the "L" class and a large number of patrol vessels lying in Milford Haven; whether destroyers could reach the Old Head of Kinsale in about five hours from Milford Haven and could easily have been on the south coast of Ireland after the "Lusitania" notified her position by wireless the day previous to her arrival and before her arrival off the Fastnet; whether he is aware that a vessel carrying horses on Government account coming up St. George's Channel was, a day previous to the sinking of the "Lusitania," warned by a patrol vessel of the presence of a German submarine proceeding in a south-westerly direction; whether when the "Falaba" was torpedoed and sunk by a German submarine some 50 miles from Milford Haven a large number of torpedo craft and patrol vessels were lying in that harbour; and whether he has information that German submarines receive supplies in our home waters?

Dr. MACNAMARA

The hon. Gentleman has probably anticipated that my answer is that given in reply to Question 14, put by the Noble Lord the Member for Portsmouth.

Lord C. BERESFORD

Has not the right hon. Gentleman's answer reference to a past question?

Dr. MACNAMARA

I can only repeat the answer given to the Noble Lord, and my right hon. Friend has nothing to add to the statement he made last Monday.