§ MR. MACDONA (Southwark, Rotherhithe)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if the American Government has yet sent a reply to the statement made in this House on 12th January last by the late Prime Minister with respect to derelict ships; what is the purport of that reply; and will he communicate it to the House?
§ * SIR E. GREYThe reply was received on the 25th of January last, and is still under the consideration of the Board of Trade. It is to the effect that no scheme at present exists in the United States for patrolling ocean routes for the purpose of removing derelicts, &c., although they are destroyed by United States vessels of war when heard of; but that the United States Government are prepared to invite the principal Maritime Governments to consider an Intel-national Agreement on the subject.