§ 6. Mtjor HUNTasked the Secretary for Foreign Affairs whether the Government of the Netherlands has refused to allow a British merchant ship to use Dutch ports in the ordinary way if the ship is armed with a gun to ward off attacks by German submarines; and whether, in view of the fact that in the past merchant ships have 1260 been entitled to be armed for defence, he will take steps to secure that the Dutch Government shall allow our armed merchantmen to trade in the usual way?
§ Lord R. CECILThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. His Majesty's Government are at present in communication with the Netherlands Government on the subject.