§ SIR JOHN OGILVYsaid, he wished to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether any information has been received by Her Majesty's Government as to the embargo to be placed on Danish vessels in German ports, or on German vessels in Danish ports, and as to the time which will be allowed for vessels to clear; whether German vessels are subject to capture at sea by Danish cruisers; and whether any information has been received as to the blockade of Prussian and German ports, and the regulations affecting the same?
§ MR. LAYARDSir, I am glad to have this opportunity of giving an answer to my hon. friend, as a great number of applications have been made to the Foreign Office from the various shipping interests of the country upon the subject. When the unfortunate war broke out between Denmark and the German Powers, an embargo was placed by the Danish Government upon German shipping in Danish ports, and by Austria and Prussia on Danish shipping in German ports. It was then 860 understood—indeed, this Government was informed—that six weeks' time would be allowed to vessels to clear out before being subjected to the embargo. In that sense the information was given to the country, but since then a large number of captures have taken place at sea by Danish vessels. Her Majesty's Government was requested by Austria and Prussia to prevail upon the Danish Government not to capture German vessels at sea. It was thought a wrong and very extraordinary proceeding; but the Government declined to take away from the Danes that which they considered a fair means of resisting what we considered to be a most unjustifiable and unwarrantable aggression on Danish territory. Consequently, Her Majesty's Government declined to take any action to induce the Danes to refrain from capturing German vessels at sea. Her Majesty's Government has been informed, therefore, by the Governments of Austria and Prussia, that an embargo will at once be enforced on Danish vessels, and that no time will be allowed them to clear from the ports. I have no doubt that the Danish Government will adopt the same course, and that no time will be allowed to German vessels to clear from Danish ports. At present, Her Majesty's Government have no intimation of any intention on the part of the Danes to blockade any German port, and of course there are no regulations to produce.