§ 48. Major Sir H. HAVELOCK-ALLANasked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the good results recently obtained by a threat of reprisals, His Majesty's Government will continue this policy and extend its scope; whether he is aware that the French Government has secured complete immunity from submarine attack for their hospital ships plying between Salonika and Marseilles by including enemy officers among the passengers; and will he adopt similar means of ensuring safe transit for our hospital ships?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave yesterday on this subject to the hon. Member for the Ludlow Division. I may add, however, that the statement made in the last part of the question that German prisoners are now being carried in French hospital ships is erroneous.
§ Colonel C. LOWTHERIs it not the fact that the right hon. Gentleman informed me repeatedly during the first two years of the War that reprisals were entirely impracticable, and as their adoption has proved a great success should not their scope be extended in every direction?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWMy hon. and gallant Friend's memory is too good for a statement I certainly did not make, because I never held any such view.
§ Colonel LOWTHERDoes the right hon. Gentleman mean to imply that he never told me, in answer to very many questions in this House, that reprisals were impracticable?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWNever. A general statement of that kind I am certain I 816 never made. Of course, it is very difficult to recall everything that has been said, but I am certain I never made such a statement, because I never thought it.
§ Mr. BILLINGIn view of the desirability of rendering hospital ships immune from attack would the right hon. Gentleman consider the advisability of putting on board international financiers of friendly alien origin?