§ MR. MACDONA (Southwark, Rotherhithe)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he has yet had a reply to the Despatch sent by him to the English Minister at Washington, inquiring whether the American Government were anxious to approach our Government with a view to acting conjointly for the destruction of floating derelicts, now in great numbers in the Atlantic, a constant source of great danger to the lives of so many thousands of people sailing between here and America and our Colonies; if not, how soon does he expect a reply; and will he communicate that reply to the House as soon as he gets it?
§ MR. MUNDELLANo reply has yet been received at the Foreign Office to the inquiry made by the Secretary of State through our Ambassador at Washington.
§ MR. MACDONAWould it not save a good deal of time to telegraph?
§ MR. MUNDELLAI have to make the inquiries through the Foreign Office, and I have no doubt that Her Majesty's Minister at Washington is taking the necessary steps.
§ MR. WOLFF (Belfast, E.)Has the Government finally made up its mind to do nothing whatever in this direction?
§ MR. MUNDELLANo, Sir.