BUT WE MUST LOOK FURTHER BACK
On page 207 of my copy of the 1931 Edition of International Code of Signals (price 15s 0p Net then but cost me 25 quid when I purchased it from the National Maritime museum some years later) defines QNE as "Why are you Not". See attached.
There is a note saying "any misprints or other errors discovered in the code should be reported to the Board of Trade, London, as soon as possible." Anyone got the email address for them?
Gne (Qne's older brother)