HC Deb 09 February 1900 vol 78 cc1041-2
MR. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis)

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs is he aware that the boarding and prize officers of Her Majesty's ship "Thetis," which detained the German ship "Herzog" on suspicion of carrying contraband of war, neither broke bulk nor made any search into or examination of the "Herzog's" cargo; what was the nature of the summary search which is alleged to have taken place, by whom was it made, and in virtue of what authority; was it made before the "Herzog" was released by order of Her Majesty's Government, or after the release, and when and where was it made; and did those who conducted it examine the boxes marked "Macaroni," which there is reason to believe contained rifles, and did they examine any other part of the cargo.

* THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. BRODRICK,) Surrey, Guildford

Bulk was not broken, nor could it properly be broken except under orders from a prize court. The reports received show that an examination of the papers on board relating to the cargo was made by the officers of Her Majesty's ship "Thetis" at sea on the 3rd of January. It was made before the ship was released. The boxes mentioned were not examined, but there is no reason to suppose that they contained rifles, as none were found at Lorenzo Marques, where a careful examination of the ship's cargo took place.

MR. GIBSON BOWLES

By whom was it examined at Lorenzo Marques?

[No answer was given.]

MR. GIBSON BOWLES

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs did the Marshal of the Prize Court at Durban refuse to take charge of the German steamer "Herzog" when the prize officer of H.M.S. "Thetis," which had detained and brought her in, tendered her to the Prize Court; was this refusal a consequence of any communication or order from Her Majesty's Government; if so, on what ground was such communication or order given; if not, can he state on what ground the refusal of the Marshal to take charge of the prize was based; and, in case he is not able to state this, will he make inquiry.

* MR. BRODRICK

The Marshal's refusal to take charge of the "Herzog" was not based on any orders received from Her Majesty's Government, but on the fact that the vessel was not yet in harbour.