§ 71. Lieut.-Commander FLETCHERasked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he can give particulars of the contracts for warship construction placed by the Siamese Government with foreign Governments; whether this country was given an opportunity to tender for such contracts; and, if so, what were the reasons for our not tendering or for our tenders not being accepted?
§ Captain WALLACEThe Siamese Government have placed no order for vessels 2015 of war with foreign Governments since the beginning of 1935; but during that period they have ordered seven torpedo boats and two minelayers from an Italian firm, and two training sloops, two gunboats, four submarines and three patrol boats from firms in Japan. British firms were given opportunities of tendering for these contracts, and I can only assume that their failure to secure them was due to the lower prices quoted by their successful competitors.