§ Sir CLEMENT KINLOCH - COOKEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty, whether he was aware that the naval officers decorated by the King of Italy for services rendered on the occasion of the recent earthquake in Southern Italy were unable to obtain official sanction to wear the decoration, and could only do so by special permission of His late Majesty, whereas officers of the Royal Naval Reserve who received a similar decoration were permitted to wear the same under Royal licence; whether he would consider the possibility of so amending the regulations respecting the wearing of foreign orders as to allow officers on the active list who are awarded decorations in extraordinary circumstances to come within the scope of the Royal licence; and whether he could see his way to allow the names of officers who had received decorations for services in Southern Italy to be noted in the Naval List in the list of officers holding foreign decorations?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe King's Regulations do not admit of permission to the naval officers referred to. The officers of the Royal Naval Reserve referred to were acting as officers of merchant vessels, and were held in consequence to be not at the time in the service of the King. It is not within my province to make alterations in the regulations, which are issued subject to the King's commands through the Foreign Office. Only those officers who have received permission under the regulations are recorded in the Navy List.