55. Lieut.-Colonel Sir F. HALLasked the Postmaster-General what arrangements were made to protect the cable communications between this country and Southern Ireland after it was decided to evacuate the country; whether the Irish end of all important cables is under British control and adequately guarded; and if he will say whether the necessary steps have been taken to repair the cable between Anglesey and Kingstown?
§ The ASSISTANT POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Mr. Pike Pease)The Irish ends of submarine cables between this country and Southern Ireland fall under the control of the Irish Provisional Government, but for the present any necessary repair work which could not be done from land would be undertaken by one of the Post Office cable ships. These cables have not been interfered with, any interruptions which have occurred having been on the connecting land lines in Ireland.