§ 15. Mr. Austinasked the First Lord of the Admiralty the reasons that prevented the wife of Marine L. Williams being granted passage home with her husband on the liner "Orion," sailing from Colombo on 14th March.
Mr. DuģdaleI am informed by the local naval authorities that at the last moment the "Orion" was found to be overbooked, and Marine Williams and his wife were taken off with the intention of providing passages for them in the "Reina del Pacifico."
§ Mr. AustinIs the hon. Gentleman aware that in the original letter I sent to him a week ago Marine Williams writes that his wife was refused a passage because of the stupid and absurd prejudice of the W.R.N.S. on board, and if that is so, will he see that disciplinary action is taken against them?
Mr. DuģdaleI am aware that these allegations were made, and a request was made to the Commander-in-Chief, East Indies, who has reported that no protest had been made, to the best of his knowledge, by any W.R.N.S. present there.
§ Mr. AustinIs the hon. Gentleman further aware that in that letter the husband, Marine Williams, was so incensed that he says he does not think he will come back to England again, and that he is ashamed of being an Englishman because of the treatment meted out to his wife?
Mr. DuģdaleI can only repeat that we have no knowledge of such treatment, and the Commander-in-Chief has no knowledge. I do not know how I am to obtain the knowledge.