§ MR. W. H. GREGORYsaid, he wished to ask the Under Secretary for the Home Department, If it be true that Her Majesty's forces by sea and land have been employed in preventing the landing of a submarine cable at Guernsey; and, if so, what is the principle recognized and sanctioned by Her Majesty's Government in regard to the landing of submarine cables on British Dependencies?
§ MR. KNATCHBULL-HUGESSENsaid, in reply, that it was quite true that Her Majesty's ship Dasher had been employed in preventing the landing a submarine cable at Guernsey; but he was not aware whether any force on land had been so employed. The Crown had a right to the foreshore, and it was on that ground that the cable had been prevented from being landed. It was done by order of the Secretary of State, and with the consent of the Treasury. The foreshore being the property of the Crown, it was its duty to reserve its rights.