§ 62. Lieut. - Commander FLETCHERasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he can give any information regarding the recent antisubmarine exercises carried out by the British Fleet off Malta; whether any protests have been received from the Italian Government about the subjecting of their submarines to risks by the explosion of small depth-charges; and whether he will make a statement on the matter which might have caused a grave international incident?
The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the ADMIRALTY (Lord Stanley)Anti-submarine exercises are frequently carried out by the British Fleet in the vicinity of Malta, as in the vicinity of other Fleet bases. No protest has been received from the Italian Government on account of these exercises, nor has there been any incident on which such a protest could be based.
§ Lieut.-Commander FLETCHERIs the Noble Lord aware that this story was given circulation by the hon. and gallant Gentleman the Member for North Portsmouth (Sir Keyes) and gained wide currency owing to his position and prestige, and would it not be better if the hon. and gallant Gentleman told such stories to the Marines instead of to the Press?