§ 4. Commander BELLAIRSasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Naval and Military Attachés at Madrid of our Allies have accepted Spanish decorations, while our own are not allowed to accept them; whether he is aware that the offer of the highest decoration for the Naval Attaché was refused over the telephone by an Embassy servant; whether there is a rule against our attachés accepting Royal honours; and, if so, will it be brought to the knowledge of foreign Governments in some other way?
Mr. HARMSWORTHThe hon. And gallant Member's information as to the offer of Spanish decorations to the British Naval and Military Attachés at Madrid is correct, but I have difficulty in crediting the statement contained in the second part of his question. The Regulations respecting the acceptance and wearing of foreign decorations by British subjects precluded the acceptance of these decorations by the officers concerned. Foreign Governments are well aware of the strict character of the Regulations in question.
§ Commander BELLAIRSWill the hon. Gentleman look into the statements in the question if I give him the name of my authority, who is a distinguished writer in Madrid?