§ MR. GOURLEYasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, If he can inform the House, what, in the event of war between Russia and Turkey, will be the position of neutral ships of the mercantile marine in the navigation of the Dardanelles, the Bosphorus, Danube, and Suez Canal, and what measures Her Majesty's Government intend adopting for the protection of British shipping navigating those waters; and, if Turkish or Egyptian ships of war or troops will have the right of impeding the navigation of the Suez Canal against Russian ships or those of other nationalities?
§ MR. BOURKESir, should war unhappily break out between Russia and Turkey, the position of neutral merchant ships in the Dardanelles, the Bosphorus, the Danube, and the Suez Canal will depend upon so many various circumstances and such different contingencies that it is at present neither possible nor, if it were possible, would it he expedient 1540 to state now what, in the opinion of Her Majesty's Government, may hereafter be the position of neutral merchant vessels in those waters respectively. The questions raised by the hon. Member are important, and will receive the careful consideration of the Government; and in the event of maritime warfare taking place, they will adopt those measures which they consider most efficacious for the protection of British interests. As to the second part of the Question, Her Majesty's Government can scarcely be called upon to express an opinion as to the right of Turkey to impede the navigation of the Suez Canal against Russian ships in case of war, but it is not to be supposed that the passage of those of other nationalities would be affected.