§ MR. PICKERSGILLI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that considerable doubt has arisen respecting the reason why the words "or to some nearer destination" have been inserted in Rule 3 of his Letter addressed to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty; and will he be good enough to stale the effect of these words, and, in particular, whether they are intended to cover the case of the supply of coal in a British port to a ship of war of either belligerent when the 1393 destination of such ship, being nearer than the nearest port of her own country, is a point for hostile operations against the other belligerent?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR,) Manchester, E.The words to which the honourable Gentleman refers have been contained in all recent proclamations. Their meaning is clearly not that which the honourable Gentleman attributes to them. They are intended to limit, not to increase, the amount of coal which a belligerent may take in at one of our ports. The fundament al principle underlying these provisions is that neutral ports should not be made the basis of warlike operations.