§ COLONEL SIR HOWARD VINCENT (Sheffield, Central)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade if he has any information from the United States as to the intentions of the American Government towards those vessels under the Spanish, flag which were taken on the high seas prior to the declaration of war, or which had left their ports of departure in ignorance thereof; and, if it should be proved to the satisfaction of the Board of Trade that British subjects were interested in such vessels, or their cargoes, as part owners or insurers, if Her Majesty's Consuls will be instructed to assist the representatives of those concerned before the properly constituted tribunal?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. G. N. CURZON,) Lancashire, SouthportPerhaps my honourable Friend will allow me to answer this Question? We have not received any intimation from the American Government as to the course which they propose to pursue in such cases. Her Majesty's Consuls will, in accordance with their general instructions, give such assistance in these cases as they properly can, but it will be incumbent on the British subjects concerned themselves to make arrangements to be represented before the United States Prize Courts should the cases be taken there, and to raise such questions as to the ownership of the cargoes and otherwise as their legal advisers may consider material.