§ 36. Mr. MANDERasked the First Lord of the Admiralty what arrangements have previously been made with the Colombia Government for the recruitment of British subjects for its Navy; how long these have been in existence; and with what other Governments such arrangements have been, or are, in existence?
The FIRST LORD of the ADMIRALTY (Sir Bolton Eyres Monsell)The arrangements for manning the Colombian destroyers have been made direct by the Colombian Government with the persons concerned, and neither in this case nor, so far as I am aware, in any previous similar case, have arrangements been made between His Majesty's Government and the Colombian or any other foreign Government. Officers and men have not infrequently been lent by His Majesty's Government to foreign Governments in an advisory capacity, for example, as instructors or members of naval missions, but I presume that the question does not relate to cases of this kind.