§ 45. Viscount CURZONasked the Prime Minister whether the full despatches, the battle orders, and any special instructions given to the Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Fleet, the officer commanding the battle cruiser and Harwich forces prior to the battle of Jutland, and the operation orders for the 31st of May, 1916, will be included in the publication of the official Report of the action?
§ Sir W. DAVISONBefore the right hon. Gentleman replies to this question, may I ask if he will assure the House that no papers will be issued to gratify idle curiosity, which will be prejudicial to the naval safety of this country?
§ Rear-Admiral ADAIRMay I ask whether the Admiralty have considered the undesirability of publishing battle orders, the outcome of years and years of experience of the British Navy, for the education of every other navy in the world.
§ The PRIME MINISTERI think the reply answers the further questions put by the hon. Gentlemen (Sir W. Davison and Rear-Admiral Adair).
The Paper promised will include full despatches and all special instructions and orders emanating either from the Admiralty or the Commander-in-Chief, prior to the battle. As regards the term "Battle Orders" used in the question, these include detailed instructions and orders which are still in force in His Majesty's Navy, and which are of a very confidential nature, embodying the experience gained by our Fleet as the result of tactical exercises and studies through a long period of years. In the interest of naval efficiency these must be kept secret, but the documents that are being printed will provide all the material required for an understanding of the strategy prior to and the actual tactics of the battle.
Mr. J. JONESWill the right hon. Gentleman see that the names of naval officers who are getting pensions for running their ships on rocks are published?
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYWill the right hon. Gentleman satisfy himself that a Naval Staff appreciation of this battle is being prepared for the use of staff officers studying naval problems of the future, and which is to be kept confidential, and will place on record the whole of the material available?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI have no doubt the Admiralty would certainly do that.