§ 3. Mr. MANDERasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information as to the duties, in addition to navigating the vessels out to Colombia, to be performed during their two years' contract by the 185 British ex-officers and naval ratings recently engaged by the Colombian Government; whether a copy of the contract has been seen by him and is now available; and if it is the policy of the Government to give equal facilities and encouragement 1675 for British subjects to join the armies, navies, and air forces of other South American republics, including Peru?
§ Mr. EDENInformation as to the contracts with these persons has been given by my right hon. Friend, the First Lord of the Admiralty, in the course of the Debate on the 30th May and by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary, in reply to a question put by the hon. Member on the 5th June, and to these statements I have nothing to add. Neither His Majesty's Government nor any British Government Department is a party to these contracts. My right hon. Friend does not therefore feel it incumbent upon him to seek the permission of the interested parties to their publication, but the hon. Member may assume that the information already given to him regarding them is correct. As no special facilities or encouragement were given by His Majesty's Government in connection with the engagement of these British subjects, the last part of this question does not arise.
§ Mr. MANDERIs it not a fact that permission was given for over 100 men to enlist in the Colombian Navy, and can it be assumed that equal facilities will be given to all States in similar circumstances?
§ Mr. MACQUISTENIs it not very satisfactory that a number of our military and naval personnel should have been able to find jobs abroad?