THE DUKE OF ST. ALBANSrose to call attention to the case of the "Rosslyn," and asked, What instructions are given to the police and Custom authorities at Gibraltar to prevent contraband trade with Spain; and, whether Her Majesty's Government will lay upon the Table any recent Correspondence relative to this question or to a demarcation of the waters of the Bay of Gibraltar? The noble Duke said, the Rosslyn, as appeared by a letter from Lloyd's agent, published in the newspapers, was a British ship, which had received several tons of tobacco at Gibraltar to transfer to another vessel off the coast of Spain. On arriving at the rendezvous, however, the Rosslyn, instead of finding her consort, was seized by Spanish guarda-cost as and taken into Cadiz. Mr. Perry, the English Consul, 1899 demanded and obtained her release—on what grounds it was not stated. But it was to be hoped that such an act of open smuggling could not be committed under the British Flag with impunity. It was well known that contraband trade was carried on with Spain to a considerable extent from Gibraltar. He would not enter into the question how far Spanish officials connived at this; but it seemed to him that, if it was necessary that we should hold Gibraltar, we ought to make our position there as little galling as possible to Spain. If a corresponding state of things existed in the Isle of Wight, this country would certainly not be disposed to tolerate it. Those of their Lordships who knew Gibraltar would be aware of the constant disputes and reprisals which the uncertainty existing as to the limits of British and Spanish waters gave rise to; and he should be glad to hear that there was some likelihood of the maritime jurisdiction of the two countries in this respect being defined. Our legitimate trade with Spain was of considerable importance. His personal experience was that an English vessel was received in a Spanish port with kindness and courtesy; and he hoped to be told that the British Government were prepared to do all that lay in their power to prevent the good understanding between the two countries being jeopardized by the existence of a state of things at Gibraltar such as the scandal of the Rosdyn had revealed.
§ EARL CADOGAN, in reply, said, Her Majesty's Government had no information on the subject of the Rosdyn which the noble Duke (the Duke of St. Albans) did not himself possess. He (Earl Cadogan) was not in a position to say whether the Consul at Cadiz had or had not demanded the release of the vessel; but the fact that the vessel had been released seemed to show that the Spanish authorities did not feel very strongly in the matter. Smuggling did, no doubt, prevail to a great extent at Gibraltar. It had occupied the attention of both the late Government and the present one; and from Correspondence which had been laid upon the Table, their Lordships would see that the present Governor of Gibraltar (Lord Napier of Magdala) had made various suggestions for the suppression of the traffic. Those recom- 1900 mendations had been embodied in an Order in Council which was issued in 1878. An increased hue was imposed for landing goods after dark, and the Governor stated that smuggling had materially diminished in consequence. Any later Correspondence than that already laid on the Table could not be conveniently produced. Correspondence was in progress with reference to the demarcation of the waters; but it was of a confidential nature at present, and could not, therefore, be produced.
§ LORD NAPIER OF MAGDALAsaid, that the Government of Gibraltar had no control over the ordinary transactions of the trade of a free port. Ships called, and deposited or carried away such cargoes as they pleased; and unless these consisted of spirits or wine, or munitions of war, the Local Government possessed no rights to interfere with them. But that particular form of smuggling which had been carried on by small vessels that left the port in the evening, and, abusing the protection afforded by the British fortifications, stole round the Book about dusk, waiting for darkness to enable them to elude the Spanish preventive boats, had been virtually put an end to. By the means and regulations which the Colonial Government had placed in the hands of the Local Government, such strict vigilance was exercised that it was very difficult for boats to leave the port after the hour when it was prohibited. Boats found loitering about the Rock were sent back to the port, and a breach of the port regulations was punishable by a fine of £100. Another form of smuggling had been practised by Spaniards, who visited Gibraltar daily, and in returning were in the habit of sitting down on the neutral ground, beyond the control of the British sentries, and then undressing, and concealing their tobacco, in order to pass the Custom House officers at their own barriers. At the request of the Spanish Consul (Senor Jan Juan), whoso courtesy and friendliness in ail international questions had been as remarkable as his honest attention to the interests of his own country, he (Lord Napier of Magdala) permitted our policemen to cause these people to move on beyond the half of the neutral ground nearest the fortress, and the Spanish police looked after the other half. By these means the practice had been practically stopped, though any relaxation of vigi- 1901 lance would allow it to revive. From some observations which appeared in one of the daily papers some time ago, there would appear to be a misapprehension regarding the conduct of the local authorities, to the effect that they did not do all in their power to prevent smuggling; but the truth was that they really did all that the law allowed them, and even step beyond it, out of consideration for the Spanish Government, and to avoid any ground of complaint.