§ SIR EDWARD GOURLEY (Sunderland)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he would inform the House the amount of the award for damages claimed by the Canadian sealers against the United States of America; and whether it has yet been paid; and, if not, could he state when it is likely to be handed over?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Mr. J. CHAMBERLAIN,) Birmingham, W.The amount of the award for damages claimed by Canadian sealers against the United States of America is 463,454 dollars and 27 cents, exclusive of the claims as to which the Commissioners held that they had no jurisdiction, but which they assessed, provisionally, at 5,000 dollars and 1,000 dollars with interest from the 18th of September, 1897. The award has not yet been paid. On the 14th January a message was sent to the Senate recommending the early appropriation of the amount by Congress. No information has yet reached Her Majesty's Government as to what action has been taken.