HC Deb 17 November 1920 vol 134 cc1866-7
25. Commander Viscount CURZON

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the Government are in possession of photographs of the damage to German ships inflicted during the Battle of Jut-land; and, if so, whether they can be included in the OFFICIAL REPORT or, failing that, the official naval history of the War?

Sir J. CRAIG

These photographs are not considered to be of sufficient interest to the public to warrant the expense involved by publication.

Viscount CURZON

Will these photographs be available to the public, if not in the official history of the War by means of the Imperial War Museum?

Sir J. CRAIG

I will have that inquired into: it is quite possible.

Lieut.-Colonel C. LOWTHER

Will they be available if the public are ready to pay for them?

Sir J. CRAIG

All these matters are really a question of finance.

Lieut.-Colonel LOWTHER

Will they be available to the public if some outside person wishes to see them?

Sir J. CRAIG

I see the point. I understand that will be so.

26. Viscount CURZON

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the official German account of the battle of Jutland has yet been published; and, if not, can steps be taken to include it in the publication of the OFFICIAL REPORT, provided that delay in publication is not thereby caused?

Sir J. CRAIG

No official German account of the battle of Jutland has yet been published, either in this country or, so far as is known, in Germany. The account of the battle submitted by Admiral Scheer to the ex-Kaiser, which has come into the possession of the Admiralty, is included amongst the documents that will be published in the promised Parliamentary Paper.

Viscount CURZON

Is this to be considered as being the German official account or not?

Sir J. CRAIG

It must be taken for what it is.