§ MR. HENEAGE (Great Grimsby)asked the Secretary to the Board of Trade, Whether he can give any information with regard to the case of the 934 Lady Gediva, a Grimsby fishing smack, whose skipper was imprisoned by the German authorities on 13th May for an alleged breach of the North Sea Fisheries Convention, 1883, and is reported to have been released on the 21st of July; whether it is true that a German cruiser fired ball cartridge, which struck the mast, and afterwards ran into the vessel, doing considerable damage; whether the vessel was taken to a German port, in direct contravention of the 30th Article of the above named Convention, and the gear taken out of the vessel, which was then sent home with the remainder of the crew, the skipper being sent to Flensberg, whilst the preliminary proceedings were taken in his absence; whether it is true that the skipper was brought to trial on 21st July, and the case heard and decided without any notice being given to the Consul or Dr. Israel, who had boon retained and instructed to defend him at the trial at considerable expense; whether the Board of Trade intend to take any steps to obtain compensation for the heavy loss sustained by the owners, crew, and others connected with the Lady Godiva; and, whether Her Majesty's Government will forthwith call the attention of the German Government to the serious infraction of the Articles of the North Sea Fisheries Convention, 1883, by the interference with a vessel whilst sailing in territorial waters without the gear down, as well as the illegal action of the officer in command of the German cruiser in firing ball cartridge into the fishing vessel on the high seas, and taking her into a foreign port, instead of handing the vessel over to an English cruiser, or taking her into an English port, in accordance with the North Sea Fisheries Convention?
THE SECRETARY (Baron HENRY DE WORMS) (Liverpool, East Toxteth)The particulars contained in the Question of the right hon. Member, as regards the circumstances of the arrest of the Lady Godiva fishing vessel, are, speaking generally, in accordance with information received at the Board of Trade; but it is understood that she was within the territorial waters of the German Empire. The Regulations of the North Sea Fisheries Convention do not affect this case, as they relate only i to waters outside territorial limits. The 935 report of the trial, at which the master of the fishing vessel was acquitted, has not yet been received at the Board of Trade; and until it reaches us I am not able to say what, if any, action with regard to compensation the Board of Trade may advise the Foreign Office to take in the matter.