HC Deb 04 April 1898 vol 56 cc47-8
LORD CHARLES BERESFORD

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether, in the event of war unfortunately breaking out between the United States and Spain (and the United States not being signatory to the Declaration of Paris), the United States would have the right of search in all neutral vessels, including the British?

THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR,) Manchester, E.

The Question whether the United States, who are not signatories to the Declaration of Paris, might, in the event of war, give effect to the provisions of that Declaration with regard to the searching of neutral vessels, raises an important point of international law, upon which I think that a Question might be addressed with advantage to my learned Friend the Attorney General.

MR. JOHN MORLEY (Montrose Burghs)

I do not know whether the First Lord of the Treasury will find it convenient or possible to give the House any information as to the grave situation between the Government of Spain and the Government of the United States. I need hardly say that we are awaiting information with great anxiety.

THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY

I do not know that I can say more than that the question is, of course, causing anxiety in every capital on both sides of the Atlantic, and that I believe there is a very great desire on the part of the Governments chiefly concerned to preserve peace. Anything that we can do to attain so desirable an end, of course, will be done; but I do not know that anything more can be said with advantage at the present time, or that the right hon. Gentleman would desire more to be said.

MR. DAVITT

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman the First Lord of the Treasury whether he can confirm the report published in the afternoon papers that His Holiness the Pope has been asked to mediate between Spain and America on the Cuban difficulty?

THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY

I have received from Madrid a report dealing with the subject of the hon. Gentleman's Question, though not exactly bearing it out in its full details. If he will defer any further Question till to-morrow I shall be able to give him a complete answer.