Ships (Transfers to Foreign Governments) (Hansard, 23 June 1948)

41. Mr. J. P. L. Thomas
asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he will state the policy of the Admiralty in respect of the disposal of His Majesty's ships to foreign countries.

Mr. Dugdale
Only those ships which are surplus to the requirements of the Royal Navy are transferred to foreign Governments. The principles observed in such transfers are:

Firstly: the fulfilment of the strategic interests of the United Kingdom by assisting in the reconstruction of the navies of former allies and other friendly Powers.

Secondly: the strengthening of the close relations between the R.N. and these Navies, which grew up to their mutual advantage during the war.

Mr. Thomas
Are the Admiralty aware of the strength of feeling in this country against the sale of His Majesty's ships to countries still occupying British territory in the Antarctic, and especially against the possible sale of H.M.S. "Ajax" to the Chilean Government? In addition, has the hon. Gentleman any statement to make about the later stages of negotiations in regard to that ship?

Mr. Dugdale
No, Sir; that is another question. If there is any strong feeling, I have no doubt that it can be conveyed to my right hon. Friend, and no doubt he will take it into account.

§ Mr. Donner
In reference to the original reply, and to the sale of ships no longer required, has the estimates requirement of the minimum cruiser strength of the Navy been lowered below 50?

Mr. Dugdale
No, Sir.

§ Mr. Platts-Mills
Will my hon. Friend not add, to complete his statement of policy, that the requirements of the Navy are now defined in Washington, and no longer in London?

§ Mr. Speaker
These constant and rather insulting references to a friendly Power do deserve reproof.

Hon. Members
Withdraw.

§ Mr. Gallacher
On a point of Order—

§ Mr. Speaker
On a point of Order, very well.

§ Mr. Platts-Mills
May I not rise on a point of Order, first?

§ Mr. Speaker
If the hon. Member wishes to put a point of Order first, he may do so.

§ Mr. Platts-Mills
Perhaps my voice was not so loud as it should have been, but I did mean to make a point of Order. Is it not open to me continually and, if I think right, at all times, to draw the attention of the House to the fact that in my view certain right hon. Members are taking steps in relation to the United States of America that virtually amount to the betrayal of our country to certain powerful interests in that country? If I hold that view, may I not press that point, in season, and out of season?

§ Mr. Speaker
Not at Question Time. There is a rule that insinuations and imputations should not be made, either in Questions at the Table, or in supple-mentaries, and I reproved the hon. Member because I thought his constant references to America were imputations and insinuations of an unfriendly character. That is my Ruling.

§ Mr. Gallacher
On a further point of Order, Mr. Speaker. In view of the fact that you have given that Ruling, will you give a similar Ruling when not only innuendoes, but open slanders are made against a friendly Power, the Soviet Union?

§ Mr. Speaker
I am very careful about what I hear, but these things are not always said in the same way.

§ Sir R. Ross
Will the Parliamentary Secretary add to the other conditions which he has mentioned the condition that he will not transfer warships of the British Navy to any country which is attempting to annex British territory?

Mr. Dugdale
It is obvious that if any country is acting against the British Empire we shall not transfer ships to that country.

Mr. Thomas
In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the answer, especially in regard to H.M.S. "Ajax,"I give notice that I shall raise the matter on the earliest possible occasion.