§ MR. GOURLEY (Sunderland)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the British and American Behring Sea, Commissioners have signed a Joint Report, embodying a statement of facts as regards all points connected with the seal industry on which there is no dispute; if so, will he state what these are; and whether any agreement has been arrived at on the main questions at issue, regarding a close season and the prohibition of pelagic sealing; and, if not, will these and other points, upon which no agreement has been arrived at, be referred to arbitration?
THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. J. W. LOWTHER,) Cumberland, PenrithThe British and American Commissioners have signed a Joint Report as stated in the hon. Member's question, but the details of the contents thereof have not yet reached the Foreign Office. No agreement has yet been arrived at regarding the establishment of a close season or the prohibition of pelagic sealing. These points and others, upon which the two Governments are unable to agree, will be referred to arbitration under the Convention recently signed and now under the consideration of the Senate of the United States.