§ MR. THORNTON (Clapham)On behalf of the hon. Member for Wands- 1496 worth, I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs is he aware that the recent wreck of the s s. "Imperatrix," with many lives, was owing to the absence of any light on the south-west coast of Crete; that there is no lighthouse or light in the Mediterranean between Cape Matapan (Greece) and Gavdo Island, a distance of 123 nautical miles; that the south-west coast of Crete is in the midway between those two points; and that even the light on Gavdo Island, being so high as 1,149 feet above sea level, is invisible in cloudy weather, and therefore often not available; and whether he will move the proper authorities to consider the erection of a light on Kavo Krio, a headland in Crete near the wreck, which is said by competent authorities to be suitable for the purpose.
§ MR. RUNCIMANHis Majesty's Government have no information as to the causes which led to the wreck of the Austrian steamship "Imperatrix," nor have they received any applications during the last thirteen years from the British shipping interested for the establishment of a light on the south-west extremity of Crete.