§ Mr. COURTHOPEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty under what conditions officers of foreign navies are permitted to live on board His Majesty's ships; whether he is aware that these officers have access, without supervision, to every part of such ships as they may be serving in, including such places as are not permitted to be shown by officers to anyone unconnected with the Service, and further, that they are permitted to witness manœuvres of such a confidential nature that guests are not allowed to be invited on board His Majesty's ships while such manœuvres are being held; further, whether he is aware that difficulties have arisen in connection with the messing and cabin accommodation of these officers; and finally, whether, in the interests of the country, the regulations permitting the entry of these officers may be altered, or, failing that, can he give the House any guarantee that no information of a confidential nature has become the property of any of the principal maritime Powers through the agency of any foreign officer who has served in one of His Majesty's ships?
§ Mr. McKENNAForeign officers of the lesser naval Powers are in exceptional cases received on board His Majesty's ships for training, and it is manifestly impossible to prevent an officer from witnessing manœuvres in which his ship is taking part. I am not aware that any discontent exists among naval officers at the presence in their midst of foreign officers, nor that any naval officer has had to give up his cabin to a foreign officer. Before a foreign officer is appointed for training the commander-in-chief is always asked to report the name of a ship in which he can be accommodated. I think the officers of the foreign navies who are received on board 2577W our ships may be trusted as a matter of honour not to communicate any confidential information they receive to other Powers. I may observe, in reference to the whole subject, that the practice of permitting foreign officers to serve in His Majesty's ships has often produced happy results in cementing international friendships.