§ 5. Mr. HOUSTONasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the acts of piracy continued by enemy submarines and the indiscriminate sinking of Allied and neutral vessels with 813 the avowed object of diminishing or destroying the world's merchant tonnage (with the exception of German tonnage) and the effects this policy, if successful, would have upon the whole civilised world, he has already consulted the Allied Governments with a view to a collective or joint Note being addressed to neutral Governments, and more especially to the greatest of all neutral Governments, the object and purport of the Note being to arrange for the free admission to and enjoyment of neutral ports by merchant vessels armed for effective defence and protection against piratical submarine craft; whether this has already been done and, if so, can he state when; and, if not done, will he say why it has not been done?
§ Lord R. CECILAt the beginning of the War His Majesty's Government explained to the Governments of neutral maritime countries their view of the legal and historical justification for arming merchant ships for their own defence Since then, as occasion arose, they have communicated on the subject with the Governments of countries which British defensively armed merchant ships have required to visit. Of all the Governments approached only one at present refuses to admit defensively armed ships into its ports, and even that Government does not impugn the legality of arming merchant ships for defence. The French and Italian Governments have acted separately from His Majesty's Government in the matter.
§ Mr HOUSTONWill the Noble Lord give the names of the neutral Governments who have refused free admission to their ports of armed merchant ships?
§ Lord R. CECILI think I would rather have notice of that question.