§ SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN (Stirling Burghs)May I ask the right hon. Gentleman the Home Secretary whether the Government can communicate any information to the House as to the relations between Russia and Japan?
§ * MR. AKERS DOUGLASWe have been officially informed that diplomatic relations between the Governments of Russia and Japan have been broken off. As to the details I can add nothing to the information which appears in this connection in the public Press this morning.
MR. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis)I beg to ask the Home Secretary if His Majesty's Government have issued instructions to the authorities of British ports and coaling stations abroad prescribing to them their conduct in the event of war towards belligerent ships of war. Will such ships of war only be permitted in such ports to be supplied with so much coal as will suffice to take them to the nearest port of their own country and no more; will they be prohibited from receiving any further supply of coal in any other British port until the expiration of three months from the date of the first supply, will their stay in such ports be restricted to twenty-four hours, except in the cas3 of stress of weather or distress for necessary repairs; and will such vessels be prohibited from bringing prizes into British ports. Will the same rules be enforced in the ports of the British self-governing colonies.
§ See (4) Debates, cxxv, 1320.
599§ * MR. AKERS DOUGLASThe Government have not overlooked the questions of belligerency implied in my hon. friend's Question, but his Question itself is of a very highly technical character, and it would be more satisfactory if he would put it on the Paper.