§ MR. TREVELYAN (Yorkshire, W.R., Elland)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether the Board have any information as to the demand for the payment of what is known as "blood-money" in respect of seamen shipped on British ships in Portland, Oregon; and whether such demand is in accordance with recent American shipping legislation.
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURYes, Sir, the Board of Trade have received several communications with regard to the exaction of what is known as "blood-money" at Portland, Oregon, and are in communition with the Foreign Office on the subject. I am not prepared the present moment to say exactly to what extent the legality of these demands is affected by recent American legislation.