§ SIR CHARLES CAYZER (Barrow-in-Furness)I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can now state the reasons given by the Russian Prize Court at Vladivostock for the confiscation of the British steamer "Allanton" and her cargo; and, if not, when he will be able to give the information.
§ THE UNDER - SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Earl PERCY,) Kensington, S.His Majesty's Ambassador at St. Petersburg has asked the Russian Government for an official statement of the grounds upon which the vessel and her cargo were condemned. The information, when furnished, will at once be communicated to the parties interested.
§ MR. WOLFF (Belfast, E.)asked if the grounds for the decision were the passage of the vessel through the Japanese Sea, instead of the Pacific, the presence on board of a Japanese cabin boy, the absence of proof that the Japanese company had sold the coal to a neutral party, and that the Judge was convinced that the steamer was not bound to Singapore, but to a Japanese or Korean port.
§ EARL PERCYsaid he should like to have notice of that Question.
§ MR. JOSEPH DEVLIN (Kilkenny, N.)Has any protest been sent by the British Foreign Office to St. Petersburg
§ EARL PERCYThere can be no question of protesting until we have the official statement.