§ 40. Commander BELLAIRSasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is now in a position to state the questions which will be addressed to Lord Mersey's Board of Trade Inquiry into the loss of the "Lusitania"; and whether he can give the positions or names of the Law Officers and the assessors who will assist Lord Mersey?
Mr. RUNCIMANThe questions for submission to the Court cannot be satisfactorily prepared until sufficient evidence has been obtained from passengers and crew on which to found them, but this is being proceeded with as rapidly as possible. The Attorney-General and the Solicitor-General will be the leading counsel in the Inquiry. The assessors, who are appointed by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary, will, I understand, be Admiral Sir Frederick S. Ingle-field, K.C.B., and Lieutenant-Commander Hearn, R.N., together with two mercantile marine masters, Captain D. Davies and Captain J. Spedding.
§ Mr. GEORGE TERRELLMay I ask whether the instructions alleged to have been given by the Admiralty to the captain will be disclosed?
Mr. RUNCIMANIt is competent for the Committee to call for any information which they desire in the course of the Inquiry, either for the Admiralty or any other Department.
Mr. RUNCIMANWe would not abandon it. I have already announced it may be necessary to conduct the Inquiry, or parts of it, in camera, but we should not think of abandoning it.