§ MR. GREGORYsaid, he wished to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether any and what steps are being taken to protect the property of British subjects purchased and paid for in the Southern States of North America before the commencement of the War where proof has been afforded of the bond fide nature of the transactions?
§ MR. LAYARDSir, I presume that the Question of the hon. Member applies more particularly to cotton. This cotton comes under two categories—that which has been destroyed by the authorities of the so-called Confederate States, and that which has been taken possession of by the Federal authorities. As regards the former, the Government have been advised that foreigners owning property in a country which is subject to such a war as that now existing in the Southern States of America are liable to all the accidents which may befall the property of persons belonging to that country, and if that property has been destroyed for the bond fide purpose of preventing it from falling into the hands of the enemy, British subjects who may be among the owners have no right to complain of such destruction. At the same time they have been requested to preserve authentic evidence respecting property so 1923 destroyed. As regards the cotton seized at Savannah, full particulars have not yet been received by the Government. It appears, however, that a large quantity of the cotton has been removed to the North, and it is stated that it has been so removed under the apprehension that it might fall into the hands of the enemy. Upon these grounds there is no doubt that the Government of the United States have a full right so to remove the cotton; but Her Majesty's Charge d' Affaires at Washington has been instructed to express a confident hope that no obstacle will be interposed to the claims of British subjects in respect of that cotton; that is to say, that every facility will be given to British subjects to prove their claim to British property thus removed by the Federal authorities to the North.