§ MR. MACDONA (Southwark, Bermondsey)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty if he is aware of the fact that the United States Naval Department at Washington, on October 27, 1893, wrote to Mr. Otto Jaffe, of the Belfast Chamber of Commerce, stating that the Department highly appreciates Mr. Jaffe's efforts to bring about the cooperation of the British Government in the removal of derelicts, and that there was a joint resolution, now awaiting the action of the Congress, providing for this co-operation on the part of the United States; and whether, in view of the fact of the Naval Authorities of the United States of America urging upon the English Government in so friendly a manner joint action upon so important a matter, the Admiralty will immediately consider the advisability of sending out a cruiser to concert with the Kearsage warship of the United States in blowing up the floating wrecks now in the Gulf Stream?
SIR U. KAY-SHUTTLEWORTHI fear that I can add nothing to the answers given on Monday and Tuesday by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade. The Admiralty 1688 have received no information from the United States Government on the subject, and they are not prepared to divert a ship of war from her ordinary duties for the purpose of seeking derelicts. I may mention that no record of a ship striking a derelict and receiving damage can be found at the Admiralty.
§ MR. MACDONAMay I remind the right hon. Gentleman that the papers report that another derelict — a Norwegian timber barque—is in the direct line of traffic between Liverpool and New York? Is it not worth the while of the Admiralty to try and save lives which may be endangered by it?
SIR U. KAY-SHUTTLE WORTHIt is not a question of being worth while. It is a question of taking the ship away from other duties.
§ MR. M'CARTANIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the reason why there is no record of damage through derelicts is because nobody lives to tell the tale?
§ [No answer was given.]