§ MR. BRYCE (Aberdeen, S.)Seeing the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in his place, I beg to ask him a question of which I have given him private notice—whether he can inform the House what is the present state of the negotiations in reference to the Behring Sea Fisheries question—how far they have progressed towards arbitration?
* THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. J. W. LOWTHER,) Cumberland, PenrithIn reply to the hon. Gentleman, I have to say that complete accord has been arrived at between Her Majesty's Government and the Government of the United States as to the modus vivendi pending a settlement by arbitration of the matters in dispute relating to Behring Sea Fisheries. The Convention has been signed at Washington, but the terms of it have not yet reached this country. I have, however, no reason to suppose that the document in the telegram from America which appeared a few days ago in the Times is in any respect inaccurate. Her Majesty's Government are taking steps to consult the Canadian Government in regard to the person whom they wish to recommend to Her Majesty's Government as one of the British arbitrators. The name of the gentleman who will arbitrate on behalf of Her Majesty's Government has not yet been definitely fixed.