§ MR. LAWSON WALTON (Leeds, S.)To ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether, having regard to the use which has recently or is now being made of the ports of Candia (Crete), Suez, and Port 291 Said, by Russian warships, he will consider the des rability of communicating to neutral Powers possessing territory upon the seaboard of the trade routes between Great Britain and the East, particularly upon the Mediterranean and Red Sea, the views of His Majesty's Government in reference to the duties of neutrals in regard to the treatment of ships of war of belligerent States which may seek to use neutral ports in connection with the operation of intercepting the trading ships of neutral Powers.
(Answered by Mr. A. J. Balfour.) The hon. Member's Question raises points of great international importance which are receiving the attention of His Majesty's Government.