[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR.,1 SIE, — As you have
allowed me to call attention in your columns (Spectator, May 20th) to the above subject. I hope you will find room for the answers of the Prime Minister to questions addressed by the Members for Newington (West) and Islington (West). They may be useful for future reference. (1) The former asked if pilotage certifi- cates could be restricted to British subjects in English (but I should have liked to read British) waters, in view of the risk arising from the employment of foreign pilots. To this appeal the Prime Minister replied that he sympathised with those who thought that, if we admitted foreign pilots to our waters, British pilots should be admitted to foreign waters. So far, so good. There is hope that in time the Prime Minister will see why foreigners would ridicule any such idea, and will apply their common-sense to our own arrangements. Fas eat et ab hoste doceri. He added that he did not think the circumstances were productive of any serious national danger. I imagine that that is a personal opinion of his. Has he ever asked himself why fifty-nine foreigners are anxious to know our waters ? Or has he heard that the status in his own country of a possible enemy's naval reservist is improved if he has a Hull or London certificate ? (2) To the Member for Islington (West) he replies : "I gather that the complaint would come when this country was at war with some country to whom these foreign pilots belonged" (Times, May 24th). And this is national defence! "The complaint would come when this country was at war." It would indeed. But what ordinary people want to know is this : Are we to wait till we are at war to prepare for it ?—I am, Sir, &c., Eton. HUBERT BRINTON.
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