SHIPPING (ATTACKS, MEDITERRANEAN).

HC Deb 09 February 1938 vol 331 cc1015-9

1. Mr. Noel-Baker

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many piratical attacks have been made on British ships in the Mediterranean since 1st January, 1938, either by torpedo or by aerial bomb?

The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Eden)

The steamship "Lake of Geneva" is reported to have been the object of an unsuccessful attack. Full statements in regard to the steamships "Endymion" and "Alcira" were made in the House on 7th February by my right hon. Friend the First Lord of the Admiralty and by myself.

Mr. Noel-Baker

Can we take it that there have been no other attacks except these three?

Mr. Eden

No, Sir. There was one in connection with the air bombardment at Tarragona.

4. Mr. Noel-Baker

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can make a statement concerning the attack on the British steamer "Thorpe-ness," at Tarragona on 20th January, by aircraft under the command of General Franco?

Mr. Eden

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on 7th February to the hon. and gallant Member for Nuneaton (Lieut.-Commander Fletcher), to which I have nothing to add.

Mr. Noel-Baker

On the question of principle involved, does the right hon. Gentleman recognise the right of belligerents to bomb merchantment in ports?

Mr. Eden

Certainly not. That is why we have made this reservation.

Mr. Noel-Baker

Then, do I understand that the Government do hold General Franco responsible for the lives which were lost?

Mr. Eden

We have made it clear more than once that we hold ourselves free to hold whichever party may be concerned responsible for any damage done within territorial waters.

23. Mr. Cocks

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the identity of the submarine which torpedoed the "Endymion" is now known to the British authorities?

The First Lord of the Admiralty (Mr. Duff Cooper)

No, Sir.

25. Mr. Thurtle

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he received a report that the British steamer "Lake Geneva" was attacked by a submarine on 15th January; and, if so, what action was taken consequent on this report?

Mr. Cooper

Yes, Sir. I have received reports which state that at about 1.30 p.m. on 22nd January last, a torpedo was fired at the British steamship "Lake Geneva" by an unknown submarine in the vicinity of Valencia. The torpedo apparently passed under the ship and no damage was caused. Strong representations were made to the insurgent naval authorities with regard to this attack, and, in view of the subsequent attacks on British shipping, the action referred to by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary on 7th February, was finally taken.

Mr. Thurtle

Is the First Lord aware that apparently the Foreign Office is unaware that this attack took place?

Mr. Cooper

I am aware of nothing of the sort. My right hon. Friend referred to this attack in answer to a question this afternoon.

Lieut.-Commander Agnew

Is there any information as to whether this submarine was operating from Valencia or not?

Mr. A. V. Alexander

Has any reply been received from the Franco authorities to the representations which the First Lord said had been made?

Mr. Cooper

Representations were made some time ago, and the Franco authorities expressed their regret.

Mr. Davidson

Does the answer of the First Lord indicate that, whether a ship is hit or whether it is missed, protests will still be made?

26. Mr. Alexander

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the renewed outbreak of piracy in the Mediterranean, steps have been taken to trace the ports from which the pirates put to sea and to exercise effective action to prevent further outrages?

Mr. Cooper

I would refer the right hon. Member to the answer given to him and to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on Monday last, 7th February.

Mr. Alexander

May we take it from the First Lord that, in view of the statement of policy by the Foreign Secretary, the Royal Navy will be instructed to prevent any action at all by these pirate submarines against British shipping, even to preventing them from coming out of port?

Mr. Cooper

I do not think that the statement of the right hon. Gentleman could be interpreted to mean that submarines should not be allowed on the surface, but that every step possible will be taken to prevent any submarine being allowed in that part of the sea submerged, and the authorities concerned have been warned what the result will be if their submarines are discovered under water.

Mr. Alexander

Is not the First Lord aware that anybody who knows the efficiency of the Royal Navy believes that they know all about these submarines and where they come from; and, as the lives of British seamen are being lost regularly in the Mediterranean, ought not the Royal Navy to take action to prevent them from coming out of port?

Mr. Cooper

I feel confident that the steps now being taken will be effective.

29. Commander Marsden

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the Board of Admiralty were satisfied from the evidence available that the steamship "Endymion" was sunk by a torpedo fired from a submarine?

Mr. Cooper

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Hitchin (Sir A. Wilson) on Monday last, 7th February, to which I have nothing to add.

Commander Marsden

How can the First Lord reconcile that answer, which said that there was no evidence at all, with the statement of the Foreign Secretary, both on Monday and to-day, that there was an attack made?

Mr. Cooper

The statement that I made did not say that there was no evidence at all. I merely gave what evidence there was.

30. Commander Marsden

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he has obtained evidence explaining why the steamship "Endymion" had deviated from the trade route advised for merchant shipping in the Mediterranean; and, if so, was this deviation by orders of the charterers or on the captain's own responsibility?

Mr. Cooper

I regret that the information required is not available.

31. Mr. Thurtle

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the Board of Admiralty have received reports either from the officer in command of the naval forces engaged in the Nyon Agreement patrol, or any other source, of the torpedoing of the Dutch steamer "Hannah," which was laden with a cargo of wheat for Valencia, off Alicante, on 11th January, and of the bombing of the French steamer "Guaruga," east of Almeria, on 2nd January; and what steps have been taken to ensure co ordination of information between all the naval forces engaged in the Nyon patrol?

Mr. Cooper

I have received a report to the effect that the Dutch steamship "Hannah" was sunk by torpedo in the vicinity of Cape San Antonio on the morning of 11th January last. I have no information of any attack on a French ship named "Guaruga." As regards the last part of the question, the British, French and Italian naval authorities engaged on the Nyon patrol are in direct touch with one another, and arrangements exist for the rapid transmission of information.