§ MR. E. NOELasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether, in the present state of International Law, there is any adequate mode of procedure against such an offence as the wilful breaking of a submarine telegraph cable outside territorial waters; and, whether any Treaties exist between Her Majesty and the other maritime powers on this subject?
§ MR. BOURKEThere are no Treaty stipulations respecting submarine telegraph cables, nor has the question been 477 raised internationally as far as this country is concerned;but as to whether there is any remedy against the wilful breaking of submarine telegraph cables outside territorial waters, I can only say that no definite case has been brought to the notice of Her Majesty's Government, and therefore I am unable to give any opinion upon the subject.