§ MR. BOWLES (Lambeth, Norwood)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether His Majesty's Government has authorised the British representative at The Hague Conference to propose or to agree to the abandonment by Great Britain of the right of a belligerent to capture contraband of war at sea; whether His Majesty's Government has authorised him to propose or to agree to the abandonment of the right to capture an enemy's private property at sea or to agree to any condition that if captured it shall not enure to the Crown but shall only be sequestrated and returned to the enemy at the end of the war; and whether he will undertake that, before the abandonment of any of the rights of maritime warfare belonging to Great Britain, the question of their abandonment or retention shall be submitted to a decision of this House.
§ SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANThe Conference having reserved to itself a discretion as to what information should be published respecting its deliberations, I cannot anticipate such publication. Should any decisions be arrived at which require legislation they would, of course, have to be submitted to Parliament, but I cannot give any pledge with regard to other decisions at any rate till it is known what they are.