§ MR. F. E. SMITH (Liverpool, Walton)To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether a claim for damages sustained by the British steamship "Eastry," belonging to Messrs. Sivewright, Bacon, and Company, in a collision at Manila in June, 1901, with certain coal hulks belonging to the Government of the United States of America, has been recommended for payment in messages from the President of "the United States to the Senate and House of Representatives, dated 19th January, 1903, 20th January, 1904, and 8th January, 1906, respectively; whether the said claim remains unpaid; and whether His Majesty's Embassy at Washington have been instructed to take any, and what, steps in the matter.
(Answered by Secretary Sir Edward Grey.) The Answer to the first and second parts of the hon. Member's Question is in the affirmative. The claim is included amongst a number of claims which have been submitted to the United States Government in accordance with proposals made for a settlement of all claims outstanding between them and His Majesty's Government.