§ SIR GEORGE BADEN-POWELL (Liverpool, Kirkdale)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether the Government of the French Republic declined in 1892 to continue their concurrence in the North Sea Liquor Traffic Convention of 1887, because of their disagreement with us in regard to the occupation of Egypt; and, if so, whether he can indicate, and present to the House, any official Correspondence containing any such declaration on the part of the French Government?
§ *MR. MUNDELLAThe French Government have never based their refusal to ratify the North Sea Liquor Traffic Convention of 1887 on the ground of a disagreement with this country with regard to the occupation of Egypt. On the contrary, they submitted the Convention to the Chamber of Deputies for confirmation. But the members of that Body appointed a Commission to report upon the question, and the Commission recommended the rejection of the Bill. The arguments they used were mainly directed against Great Britain, and they referred to an alleged opposition to French influence in Egypt. The hon. Member will find the reference at page 39 of the Correspondence recently presented.
§ SIR G. BADEN-POWELLMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman if he is aware that the reference to Egypt to which he has just alluded is a reference to the affairs of Egypt before 1842?
§ MR. MUNDELLAI cannot say that.
*MR. GIBSON BOWLESIs it not a fact that the objection of the Commission to the Convention was based not on English intervention in Egypt, but on the idea that England would dominate the sea?
§ [No answer was given.]
§ MR. HENEAGE (Great Grimsby)I wish to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he has seen a report that two "coopers" are causing wholesale demoralisation among the North Sea Fishing Fleet; and whether this does not render it especially desirable that he should use his influence to secure that the Bill now before Parliament be passed through the House of Lords as soon as possible?
§ MR. MUNDELLAI have seen a telegram to the effect stated, and I hope we shall be able to pass the Bill dealing with this subject through the House as promptly as possible, and put it into operation without delay.
MR. GIBSON BOWLESHow does the right hon. Gentleman propose to deal with "coopers" sailing under the French flag?
§ *MR. MUNDELLAThere never have been, and there are not any, and we have no reason to believe that there ever will be any, "coopers" under the French flag. When the question arises we shall know how to deal with it.