§ Sir CLEMENT KINLOCH - COOKEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that while a foreign order granted for an official visit to a foreign port is often permitted to be worn, in the matter of the orders bestowed by His Majesty the King of Italy upon officers in the Royal Navy who assisted at the rescue work at Messina after the earthquake His Majesty's order is not allowed to be worn; and whether he will consider the possibility of approaching the proper authorities with a view to having the regulation governing the position amended to meet the case cited, and similar cases as and when they arise?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe wearing of foreign orders by officers of His Majesty's service is governed by the King's Regulations, which are the same as those issued by the Foreign Office for all subjects of the Crown. Under these Regulations permission may be given to an officer who is chief of a Complimentary Mission to a foreign Power, and this is the explanation of the difference of treatment in the cases referred to by the hon. Member. The last part of the hon. Member's question should be addressed to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.