§ MR. DALZIELI beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether, in view of the fact that a Spanish torpedo gunboat is at present undergoing repairs at Passage Docks, Cork, steps will be taken to ensure that in the event of war being declared between the United States and Spain before the repairs are completed the gunboat in question will be detained?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYIf, as is understood, the vessel is a commissioned ship of the Spanish 663 Navy, it would be contrary to international practice that she should be detained.
MR. P. O'BRIENMay I ask whether, in case war breaks out, ships can be sold by British owners to either of the belligerents?
§ MR. SPEAKEROrder, order! That does not arise out of the Question.
§ LORD CHARLES BERESFORDI beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury (1) what steps, if any, have been taken to protect the interests of British shipowners and merchants in the unfortunate event of hostilities commencing between the United States and Spain; (2) whether any steps have been taken to define what is contraband of war, and, if not, whether Her Majesty's Government will make representations to the two Powers asking them to define accurately what is contraband of war before the commencement of hostilities; and (3) whether Her Majesty's Government are aware that the present uncertainty on these points is causing loss and anxiety to British merchants and shipowners, and have taken any steps to protect the interests of British subjects being molested by privateers of either of the two Powers?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYIn answer to the first paragraph of my noble Friend's Question, I have to say that I am not aware that any special steps can be taken to protect the interests of British shipowners, which, I believe, are not more threatened in this than in any other case of maritime warfare; nor do I believe it possible to give an exhaustive definition of "contraband of war," as is suggested by my noble Friend in the second paragraph.
§ LORD CHARLES BERESFORDI beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether the Government can see their way to convoke an international conference with the object of defining the rights of neutral States in the event of warlike operations between the United States and Spain, and with the further object of releasing this country from any obligations under the Declaration of Paris, as it has never received the assent of Paliament?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYI hope that as regards the first paragraph of this Question the answer I have already given to my hon. Friend the Member for Liverpool may satisfy my noble Friend that there is no need for any exceptional steps such as those suggested. I cannot quite reconcile the last sentence of the Question with the Question before, because it appears to be quite inconsistent with the suggestion my noble Friend has made that the interests of British shipowners are in need of special protection. Since, as my noble Friend will see, if the Declaration of Paris was repealed, which, my noble Friend appears to desire, it might or might not be an advantage to this country if it were at war, but it certainly would not be an advantage to this country so long as it is a neutral.