§ MR. E. H. BAYLEYI beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade, if he can state the reason for the arrangement that the Channel steamer Victoria, owned by the South Eastern Railway Company, is placed under the French flag?
§ MR. BRYCEI have communicated with the South Eastern Railway Company, and am informed by them that they do not own any Channel steamer bearing the name Victoria. The London Chatham and Dover Railway Company possess a steamer so named, and, as I explained to the hon. Member for South Birmingham on the 19th February last, and to the hon. Member for East Worcestershire on the 25th February, it is the case that the day service of mails between London and Paris is carried by vessels belonging to that Company, who, being paid by the French Government, are under contract to fly the French flag. The contract in question will expire in 1896, and I understand that the new contract will be given to the Northern of France Railway Company.
§ MR. T. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis)asked whether this vessel was British owned, and yet carried a foreign flag?
§ MR. BRYCEsaid that the vessel was owned by the London Chatham and Dover Railway Company, but as it carried the French mails it flew the French flag.
§ MR. ARNOLD-FORSTERasked whether the vessel was liable to be used against us in time of war?
§ MR. BRYCEsaid that he was not aware, but asked the hon. Member to put down his question upon the Paper.