§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether naval assistance will be given and organised beforehand if, and when, a British citizen again attempts to fly the Atlantic?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI am glad this question has been put. It enables me—and this is most desirable in the interests of all concerned—to make perfectly clear the fact that it is quite out of the question to organise naval assistance beforehand if, and when, a British citizen again attempts to fly the Atlantic. It would not have been possible, if sought, in connection with the recent flight. It will not be possible in any future flights.
The views of the Government were expressed in a communiqué issued on Tuesday night, and it is unnecessary for me to repeat them, except to call attention again to the many and heavy obligations of the British Navy in many waters.
I wish, however, to make it plain that the Government did not, and could not, accept responsibility of any kind for private enterprises which were not under their control.
The efforts made, therefore, by the Admiralty were not in any sense a belated attempt to give protection which should have been arranged for earlier, but were the spontaneous efforts to do what was possible to save the lives of the two very gallant gentlemen who had made this attempt.