§ 5. Major HUNTasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information as to a rumour of double-bottomed ships trading with Rotterdam, and principally run by German merchants; and whether goods for Germany are carried in these boats concealed in their double bottoms, and thus helping to make the blockade more ineffective?
§ Lord R. CECILFrom such inquiries as I have made I cannot find that we have information as to any traffic such as is indicated in this question, but if my hon. and gallant Friend can lay any facts before me on the subject I will see that full inquiries are made.
I would, however, point out that when such information is available it would serve the interests of this country much better if it were given privately to the Department of the Government which is in a position to act upon it—in this instance presumably the Admiralty, Board 401 of Trade, or Customs—instead of putting it in public questions or publishing it in the Press.