MR. GIBSON BOWLESI beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade, have the Board of Trade issued a notice or warning to merchant ships to the effect that when meeting vessels of His Majesty's Fleetthey should keep out of the way of such vessels; if so, will he state its date and terms; does the notice practically suspend and supersede on such an occasion the ordinary rule of the road at sea as between ship and ship; does it apply to foreign as well as to British merchant ships; and do the Board of Trade propose to adhere to or withdraw such notice.
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. GERALD BALFOUR,) Leeds, Central(1) In April, 1897, the Board of Trade issued a notice to shipowners and masters calling attention to the danger to all concerned which is caused by single vessels approaching a squadron of warships so closely as to involve risk of collision, or attempting to pass ahead of, or through, or to break the line of, such squadrons. Mariners were warned that on such occasions it would be in the interests of safety for single ships to adopt timely measures to keep out of the way of, and avoid passing through, a squadron. This notice was re-issued in July, 1900, with reference to 1206 the judgments delivered in the Court of Appeal in the "Sanspareil" case. (2) The notice is advisory only and does not suspend or supersede the rule of the road at sea. (3) It was not addressed to owners or masters of foreign ships; and (4) as a present advised I am not prepared to withdraw it.