§ 28 and 30. Commander Bowerasked the First Lord of the Admiralty (1) whether he will make a statement on the recent attack on Gibraltar Harbour by Italian naval forces;
(2) the cause of the delay in issuing the British communiqué regarding the attack by Italian grasshopper boats on Gibraltar as a result of which the Italian version of this incident was circulated on 22nd September and the British version on the following day?
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty (Sir Victor Warrender)I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave on 2nd October to the hon. Member for Stourbridge (Mr. R. Morgan). It was considered desirable in this case to limit publicity to comment on any claims which might be made by the enemy.
§ Commander BowerIs it not a fact that on previous occasions when the enemy have got in first with their communiqués, the excuse advanced by the Admiralty has always been that our ships were at sea and had to maintain wireless silence? Is it not a fact that in this case the Italians were at sea and that Gibraltar is still on the land?
§ Sir V. WarrenderI do not dispute what my hon. and gallant Friend says, but in this case the method adopted was based on the desirability and necessity of denying information to the enemy.