HC Deb 18 April 1901 vol 92 cc604-5
* SIR JOHN COLOMB

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is yet in a position to give any information to this House respecting the Code of Law issued by the Navy Department, and signed by the President of the United States, concerning matters relating to the cutting of submarine cables in war.

* THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Viscount CRANBORNE,) Rochester

Article V. of the Naval War Code, for the use of the United States Navy, is worded as follows— The following rules are to be followed with regard to submarine telegraphic cables in time of war, irrespective of their ownership: (a) submarine telegraphic cables between points in the territory of an enemy, or between the territory of the United States and that of an enemy, are subject to such treatment as the necessities of war may require, (b) Submarine telegraphic cables, between the territory of an enemy and neutral territory, may be interrupted within the territorial jurisdiction of the enemy. (c) Submarine telegraphic cables between two neutral territories shall be held inviolable and free from interruption.