§ 6. Captain CUNNINGHAM - REIDasked the First Lord of the Admiralty the conditions under which naval officers are lent to foreign Governments; if any officers have been so lent other than those whose names are shown in the current Navy List; whether these officers continue to draw pay from British Government funds; and what their position is in the event of the foreign Government to which they are lent becoming engaged in hostilities?
The FIRST LORD of the ADMIRALTY (Sir Bolton Eyres Monsell)Officers on the active list who may be lent for service with foreign Governments draw no pay from Naval Funds while so serving, but the foreign Government to which they are lent is granted an amount equal to the amount of the officers naval half-pay. Only two officers are so lent at present. Officers on the retired list are free to enter the service of foreign Governments, provided they first obtain the permission of the Admiralty. Eighteen officers are so lent at present. These officers continue to draw their retired pay. Under the regulations, the continuance of such consent is a condition of their holding the employment, and in the event of the country under which they are serving becoming engaged in hostilities, the 1091 Admiralty would naturally have to reconsider the permission given.