§ MR. WATT (Glasgow, Camlachie)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Govern- 968 ment have now been informed of the fact that Mr. Edgar Tripp was accredited to Carácas by those interested in the Lydia Peschau, and obtained from the Venezuelan Government the revocation of the Decree of Confiscation, and an offer of one-half the amount claimed by those interested; and whether the Government have received any information as to a settlement having been arrived at?
SIR J. GORST (for Sir J. FERGUSSON)Since the date of the previous answer to the hon. Member, Her Majesty's Government have been informed that Mr. Tripp was sent to Carácas by the consignees of the Lydia Peschau and had several conferences with the authorities respecting the claim which, however, led to no result, as the Venezuelan Government are only ready to offer as compensation a sum less than half of that claimed by the Agent of the Consignees. The Board of Trade has been consulted as to the adequacy of the offer under the circumstances of the case.