§ Mr. Grenfellasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the large number of refugees previously carried by British warships from Spanish ports held by General Franco and by the Government, he will give an assurance that vessels of all nationalities who undertake to bring out non-combatant refugees only from Santander will be given protection by His Majesty's Navy; and whether that protection will be offered within as well as without the three-mile limit?
Mr. CooperAs a general rule protection afforded by the Royal Navy is confined to British ships. In special circumstances, however, where satisfactory assurances can be obtained that a ship contains only non-combatant refugees such protection may be, and has been, extended to vessels of other nations. His Majesty's Government are prepared to consider all such cases on their merits. With regard to protection inside territorial waters, I have nothing to add to the answer given by my predecessor to the hon. Member for Kingswinford (Mr. A. Henderson) on 21st April last.