§ MR. J. G. BAIRD (Glasgow, Central)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to an important shipping case which has been before the law courts of Naples for the last five years, and is still pending, in which the owners of the steamship Utopia are being sued, in formâ pauperis, for compensation for the loss of life of a number of Italian emigrants through the sinking of the Utopia in Gibraltar Bay after collision with the ram of H.M.S. Anson; whether he is aware that the owners have been held responsible without being allowed to adduce evidence, and have been refused the limitation of liability prescribed by the Italian Code; and what steps the Government proposes to take in the circumstances, the case being one of exceptional importance to British shipping?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. G. CURZON,) Lancashire, SouthportThe case of the Utopia has been brought to the notice of Her Majesty's Government. They understand that it is about to come before the Court of Appeal at Naples; and, agreeing with my hon. Friend that it is one of exceptional interest to British shipping, they have instructed Her Majesty's Consul carefully to watch the proceedings and to furnish a report thereupon.