§ MR. CLARENCE SMITH (Hull, E.)I bog to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can give any information respecting the seizure of the Hull steam trawler Bluejacket by a German torpedo boat on the 27th of April last; whether it is true that the skipper, Mr. W. Sorrensen, has been detained in prison and put upon black bread for nearly a month without being brought to trial; and whether he will take steps to require his trial without further delay?
§ SIR G. BADEN-POWELLIs Mr. Sorrensen a British subject?
§ * THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Sir E. GREY,) Northumberland, BerwickI believe he and his family live at Hull, and he has command of a British trawler. I conclude, therefore, that he is a British subject. In reply to the question on the Paper, I have to say that the facts of the case were reported to the Foreign Office directly the seizure was made. The charge against Mr. Sorrensen is one of fishing within German territorial waters. As the case has not yet been tried, I can- not express any opinion upon its merits. The British Vice Consul at Brake visited Mr. Sorrensen whilst under arrest, and afforded him all assistance in his power. No complaints of ill-treatment or bad fare are known to have been made to the Vice Consul. Her Majesty's Ambassador at Berlin has been instructed to bring the case to the favourable consideration of the German Government with a view to the trial taking place at an early date.