§ MR. D. JENKINSasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether the Government has been informed of the fact that, after an arrangement had been come to between the Suez Canal Company and the International Sanitary Board at Alexandria for the establishment of pilot lazarettes at Suez and Port Said, the negotiations fell through because the Sanitary Board required, as one of the conditions, that they should have power at any time to modify or even to cancel the arrangement; and, whether, if the quarantine on arrivals at Suez cannot yet be abolished, the Government will take stops to bring about an understanding on the point in dispute, so that an end may be put to the enormous loss of time and money which has been and is being incurred by British shipping passing through the Canal, owing to the system of pilotage enforced by the present quarantine regulations?
§ MR. GOURLEYalso asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, If his attention has been directed to the serious losses now being incurred by merchants and shipowners engaged in the Suez Canal trade from India, Burmah, and Singapore, owing to the regulations which are at present enforced by the authorities of the International Sanitary Commission; if so, what measures he has adopted for the purpose of procuring an amendment of the existing quarantine rules; and, if he has suggested that the canal pilots ought to be housed and kept on board neutral craft at both ends of the canal, in lieu of the dangerous and costly system now imposed of piloting with steam launches?
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKEHer Majesty's Government have been informed of the facts to which the hon. Members for Penryn and Sunderland call attention. The Foreign Office are in communication with the Suez Canal Company, with the view of coming to an arrangement respecting the system of pilotage enforced by the present quarantine regulations; and the British Delegate on the Sanitary Board has received instructions to do all in his power to relieve British shipowners from the losses which they incur. With regard to the Ques- 1095 tion of the hon. Member for Sunderland, the subject of the existing quarantine regulations is engaging the active attention of Her Majesty's Government. The British Delegate has constantly urged the necessity of relaxing the rules, and no opportunity has been lost of pressing the views of Her Majesty's Government with regard to regulations, in many cases not applicable to the present sanitary condition of the East. If by "neutral craft" my hon. Friend refers to barges in quarantine, I may state that this proposal has already been made by the Suez Canal Company, and has received the support of Her Majesty's Government; but the Sanitary Board is an international body, on which this country is represented by one Delegate, and Her Majesty's Government cannot do more than represent the facts of the case (as they have already done) to the other Governments who send Delegates to the Board.
§ MR. BOURKEasked the hon. Baronet if he could inform the House what justification the Sanitary Board had for inflicting such quarantine; whether Her Majesty's Government had brought to the notice of the Egyptian Government this extraordinary proceeding on the part of the Sanitary Board; and, whether there was really any sickness in the East at the present time which could justify these proceedings?
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKEWith regard to the Question of the right hon. Gentleman, there is no doubt that, at the time these vexatious regulations were imposed, there was a serious outbreak of cholera at Aden, and a certain amount in the further East; but, in the further East, there is always cholera. I have already stated, in the reply I have given, that we considered the regulations inapplicable to the present sanitary condition of the East; and it is because we entertain that view that representations have been made, which we hope may prove effectual. We have not addressed the Egyptian Government directly on the subject, because the Sanitary Board is an International Board, outside the control of that Government.
§ MR. BOURKEasked, would the Government take steps to press this matter upon the attention of the other Governments interested?
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKEI already stated that that was the means by which 1096 we were proceeding. We have addressed some of those Governments on. the subject.