§ Sir H. Williamsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he can state the meaning of the Allied Powers (Maritime Courts) (France) Order in Council (S.R. & O., No. 824, of 1944) and, in particular, what is meant by the phrase France is a Power allied with His Majesty.
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§ Mr. George HallThe meaning of the Order referred to is that under the Allied Powers (Maritime Courts) Act, 1941, the French authorities are now empowered to set up in the United Kingdom a maritime court to deal with certain classes of offences committed by French merchant seamen in the same way as our other Allies. The meaning of the phrase "France is a Power allied with His Majesty" is that this country and France are, in the opinion of His Majesty's Government, Powers allied with each other in the struggle against the common enemy.