HC Deb 12 May 1902 vol 107 cc1350-3
MR. CHANNING (Northamptonshire, E.)

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he has now considered the terms of the agreement of, the 4th February, 1902, between Messrs. Ismay, Imrie, and Company, and Messrs. Richards, Mills, and Company, with Messrs. J. P. Morgan and Company for the sale of the White Star and Dominion lines to the American Syndicate; and whether he is aware that, under the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, the vessels concerned will be precluded from retaining a British register.

THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. GERALD BALFOUR,) Leeds, Central

I have considered the Agreement of the 4th February, 1902, between Messrs. Ismay, Imrie, and Company, and Messrs. Richards, Mills, and Company, and Messrs J. P. Morgan and Company. The Board of Trade are being advised by the Law Officers as to the effect of such an Agreement, but I am not aware that, under the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, the vessels concerned would be precluded from retaining their British registry.

MR. CHANNING

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether Clause 7 of the Agreement of 19th February, 1887, between the Admiralty and the White Star Company, precluding the Company from entertaining, in connection with any of the vessels receiving subventions, offers for sale without first giving the Admiralty the option of exercising their pre-emption to purchase or hire, has been retained or modified in subsequent agreements with this Company, and, if modified, what alterations have been made, and at what times; whether the White Star I Company gave notice to the Admiralty of the offers made to them by the American Syndicate before signing the provisional Agreement, which was finally signed on 4th February and has now been published; and, if so, whether the Admiralty declined to exercise the right of pre-emption.

The following Questions also appeared on the Paper:—

MR. CHANNING

To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he has considered the terms of the Agreement signed on 4th February between Messrs. Ismay, Imrie, and Company, and Messrs. J. Pierpont Morgan and Company; and whether he will state what, in view of the sale of the shares, business, goodwill, assets, and property of Messrs. Ismay and Company, is the position of the Admiralty in regard to the ships of the White Star Line on the subvention list under the Agreement between the Admiralty and Messrs. Ismay, Imrie, and Company.

MR. EDMUND ROBERTSON

To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that the Atlantic shipping Agreement includes the sale to Mr. Pierpont Morgan of the whole of the shares of the Oceanic Steam Navigation Company, owning the White Star-line of steamers; what is the number of Royal Naval Reserve men now borne by the ships of that line; what is the amount of the subsidy payable this year to the Company owning the line; whether the Admiralty intends to continue the present arrangements as to subsidies and Royal Naval Reserve men so far as the White Star Line is concerned; or what action it proposes to take in the matter.

* THE SECRETARY TO THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. ARNOLD-FORSTER,) Belfast, W.

Perhaps I may be allowed to answer all three Questions at the same time. The Agreement with the White Star Company with respect to the retention of their vessels is about to be renewed. The following additional provision, among others, will be incorporated in it— The Company will not, without the previous consent in writing of the Admiralty, transfer to a foreign flag any of the vessels subject to this Agreement. The addition has already been agreed to by the Company, and an instalment of the subsidy has been paid under the terms of such new Agreement. As the subsidised vessels have not passed out of the control of the Admiralty, and as it is provided that they shall not so pass during the continuance of the Agreement with the White Star Company, the necessity for giving notice does not appear to have arisen, nor has it been necessary for the Admiralty to exorcise or decline the right of preemption. The Admiralty are advised that nothing in the Agreement signed on the 4th February, and referred to in the Question of the hon. Member for East Northamptonshire, will interfere with their right to enforce the terms of their Agreement with the White Star Company with respect to the subsidised ships. The number of officers and men of the Royal Naval Reserve now borne on the subsidised ships in question, including the ships retained but in respect of which no subsidy has been paid, is 244. There is no present intention of cancelling the existing Agreement.

MR. JAMES LOWTHER (Kent, Thanet)

What is the length of the term over which the Agreement extends?

* MR. ARNOLD-FORSTER

Three years.

MR. JAMES O'KELLY (Roscommon, N.)

Can the hon. Gentleman state whether those ships have any fighting value?