MR. GIBSON BOWLESI beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he was aware when, on 13th March, 1893, he introduced the North Sea Fisheries Bill, to carry into effect the Convention of 1887, that the French Chamber had refused to pass a similar law, on the ground that the Convention gave the right to foreign cruisers to search and seize French vessels in time of peace; that it would prevent fishermen from obtaining assistance from other vessels when at sea; that it would lead to different punishments being inflicted for the same offence; that no compensation was provided for vessels wrongfully detained; and that it was unnecessary, inasmuch as each country could prohibit the offences aimed at by municipal regulations; and whether, in view of the fact that the Correspondence disclosing these objections has only been presented to Parliament during the present week, he will give the House time to consider how far these objections are applicable to the case of England before proceeding further with the North Sea Fisheries Bill?
§ MR. MUNDELLAThe fact that the French Government has refused to ratify 1368 the North Sea Liquor Traffic Convention of 1887 has long been known to everyone interested in the removal of the evils which have prevailed in that traffic, and it was on this account that the late Government entered into a new Convention. The objections cited by the hon. Member would apply equally to the Sea Fisheries Act, 1883, and to the Convention of 1882, which has worked admirably. It is of the utmost importance, for the honour of this country and in the interests of the fishing industry, that the Convention should come into force immediately.
*MR. GIBSON BOWLESDo I understand the right hon. Gentleman to say he was aware at the time he introduced the Bill of the facts disclosed in the Correspondence, which was for the first time placed in the hands of Members this week?
§ MR. MUNDELLAI thought everybody was aware of the fact that for six years past the Government have been negotiating the ratification of the Convention, and that, for reasons which I need not enter into, the French Government declined, with the result that Lord Salisbury entered into a new Convention which excluded France.
*MR. GIBSON BOWLESBut had the right hon. Gentleman seen the Correspondence when he introduced the Bill, although it has only just been issued?
§ MR. MUNDELLAI had not actually seen the Correspondence; but I was aware of the facts, and thought everybody else was.