§ VISCOUNT BURY (Birkenhead)I bed to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he has communicated with all the Powers represented at the Wastington Conference to obtain their approval of and assent to the Regulations in the recent Order of the Privy Council on the Screening of Ships Side-lights; and, if not, whether he will at once do so in order to make the position of British shipowners secure in Foreign Courts of Law, and in the meantime suspend the opertion of the Privy Council Order?
§ MR. MUNDELLAThe Regulations referred to by the noble Lord are Regulations interpreting our present Rules, and therefore the approval of Foreign Powers is not a necessary condition precedent to their issue. It is, however, intended to communicate at once the recent Order in Council to the Powers represented at the Washington Conference, so that the position of British shipowners may be known to them. There appears to be no sufficient reason for suspending the operation of the Order.
§ MR. HOUSTON (Liverpool, West Toxteth)Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that danger is likely to arise from the fact that the Regulations observed by British vessels differ from those followed by foreign vessels?
§ MR. MUNDELLAI cannot answer a technical question like that without notice.