§ MR. J. H. DALZIEL (Kirkcaldy)I beg to ask Mr. Attorney General (1) whether, in the event of war between the United States and Spain, British goods carried in the ships of either belligerent nation and British ships carrying goods belonging to citizens of either belligerent nation will be free from interference unless contraband; and, (2) whether privateers will be allowed to effect captures?
SIR R. WEBSTERNo positive answer can be given to the Question of the hon. Member, but in the face of the Treaties to which the United States and Spain are parties, and to the declarations of the representatives of the United States and the action of Spain, I cannot contemplate that there will be any interference with goods other than contraband of war. I do not understand the second Question, but the action of privateers, should privateering be sanctioned, will depend upon the view taken by the belligerent nations as to their right of interference with neutral commerce.
§ SIR R. T. REID (Dumfries Burghs)Will the Government invite the United States and also Spain, as the United States were invited in 1861, to state what their intentions are upon this question, for the information of British merchants and shipowners?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYI shall have something to say as to that in answer to a later question.
MR. A. H. BROWN (Shropshire, Wellington)I beg to ask Mr. Attorney General, if he is able to state whether any understanding has been come to, or is in contemplation, for the protection from detention or delay of goods owned by neutrals on board neutral ships in the event of war breaking out between Spain and the United States?
SIR R. WEBSTERIn reply to my hon. Friend, I have to say that no understanding is possible until further information has been received as to the views the belligerent countries may take as to their rights.
§ SIR A. B. FORWOOD (Lancashire, S.W., Ormskirk)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) whether the United States and Spanish Government recognise the principle that the neutral flag covers enemies' goods, and whether the Treaties of 1795 and 1819 between the United States and Spain affirming this principle as between themselves are still in force; also if any Treaty exists between the United States and this country in any way affecting these Treaties; (2) whether the Government will lay upon the Table of the House copies of all Treaties bearing upon, the position of British ships in the case of war between Spain and the United States; (3) whether a steamer carrying Spanish or United States official dispatches after war is declared is liable to seizure by cruisers of either Power; and (4) whether Her Majesty's Government will interfere in the case of the seizure of British vessels not carrying contraband of war, bonâ fide bound from or to American or Spanish ports not under blockade, to or from British, Colonial, or neutral ports, or whether British ship-owners and traders will be left to protect their interests in the Prize Courts of Spain or the United States, as the case may be?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYAlthough neither the United States nor Spain has adhered to the Declaration of Paris, the Treaties and declarations of policy which those countries have made show that they support generally the principles of the Declaration of Paris. As regards the United States, we have received this morning an official assurance that they will adhere to those principles. No answer has as yet been received from the Spanish Government. The Treaties of 1795 and 1819 between the United States and Spain are, I believe, still in force. There is not, as far as I am aware, any Treaty existing between the United States and this country affecting these Treaties. Whether a steamer carrying United States or Spanish official dispatches after war is declared be liable to seizure, must depend upon the particular facts of the case, no general answer can be given to that part of the Question. It is not possible to answer the last paragraph of 662 the Question, which is of an abstract character, and the answer to which must depend upon the conduct of the belligerent Powers.
MR. GIBSON BOWLESMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether the United States have adhered to all four articles of the Declaration of Paris?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYSo far as I understand, the answer to the Question is in the affirmative.
§ SIR GEORGE S. BADEN-POWELL (Liverpool, Kirkdale)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, whether, for the convenience of the several interests dependent on the mercantile marine of this country, he can now state what policy Her Majesty's Government are prepared to adopt, while not in the position of a belligerent, in regard to the seizure by belligerents of enemies' property, other than contraband of war, in neutral vessels, and in regard to privateering?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYMy hon. Friend appears to have put down his Question under the impression that in the case of war between the United States and Spain the principles embodied in the Declaration of Paris will not govern the action of the belligerents towards neutrals. As my hon. Friend is aware, from an answer I have just given, that is certainly not the case with regard to the United States, and I confidently expect that the same answer will apply to the Spanish Government.