§ 3. Mr. MANDERasked the First Lord of the Admiralty what visits have been exchanged between the British and foreign navies during the last five years similar to those now in progress with the Germany navy?
The FIRST LORD of the ADMIRALTY (Sir Bolton Eyres Monsell)Informal visits are not arranged on any reciprocal basis and there is therefore no exchange of visits in the strict sense of the term. British ships are continually paying visits to foreign ports, and foreign ships to British Ports, but the number of such visits is so large that I regret that 1886 it is not possible to supply particulars without causing a disproportionate amount of labour.
§ Mr. MANDERDoes not the First Lord feel that it might be desirable, in view of the outbreak of savagery in the last few days in Germany, to postpone this visit for the time being?
§ 5. Colonel WEDGWOODasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the British taxpayer or the German Government are paying for bringing the Germans from Portsmouth to London; and whether any official arrangements are being made for their visit?
Sir B. EYRES MONSELLNo expense to the British taxpayer will be involved by any visit that may be paid by officers and men of the German ships to London. The official programme for entertaining the crews of these ships does not include any such visit.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODIf they can pay these expenses, cannot they pay us?