§ MR. ROBSON (South Shields)I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that the crew of the British steamship "Allanton," which was unlawfully captured on the 16th June, 1904, by a Russian warship, have as yet received no compensation from the Russian Government for the losses, risks, and hardships imposed on them by reason of the capture, and particularly for their enforced detention of nearly five months. at Vladivostock; and whether it is the intention of the Government to present any claim to the Russian Government on behalf of these men.
§ MR. AUSTIN TAYLOR (Liverpool, East Toxteth)May I also ask whether representations have been made to the Russian Government with regard to the sinking of the "Ikhona," and whether instructions are being sent to the commander of the Russian cruiser "Terek" similar to those which have been sent to the commander of the "Dneiper?"
§ THE UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Earl PERCY,) Kensington, S.I do not think that arises out of the Question, but my impression is that our Ambassador at St. Petersburg has been instructed to bring this matter to the notice of the Russian Government in the same way as the question of the "St. Kilda." The Answer to the earlier portion of the Question of the hon. Member for South Shields is in the affirmative. With reference to the concluding portion I am informed that the crew were in receipt of wages throughout the period of the vessel's detention at Vladivostock, and up to the present sufficient facts have not been brought to the notice of His Majesty's Government to justify a claim being presented to the Russian Government on behalf of the members of the crew.