§ MR. CHARLES MCARTHUR (Liverpool, Exchange)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on what grounds the steamship Baluchistan was, on the 24th January last, seized by H.M.S. Lapwing, off Muscat, and certain arms and ammunition on board, shipped at London for Bushire and other ports in the Persian Gulf by the said steamship, were seized and taken out of her by those on board the Lapwing; by whose authority this action was taken; and whether an official report of the occurrence has yet been received?
MR. CURZONThe incident to which the Question refers formed the subject of a Question asked on the 21st of February by the hon. Member for East Mayo. I can only refer the hon. Member to the answer then returned, which explained the seizure of certain arms carried by the Buluchistan, and the authority on which such action was taken. The fact of the seizure of the arms was reported by telegram; full details respecting the proceedings have been requested by telegraph, but have not yet been received.