§ MR. McARTHUR (Liverpool, Kirkdale)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any final decision has yet been given in the Russian courts with respect to the claims for compensation for losses sustained by the British ships "St Kilda." "Hipsang," and "Oldhamia," respectively, during the Russo-Japanese war; and what is the present position of these cases.
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. J. A. PEASE,for Sir EDWARD GREY) Essex, Saffron Walden;My right hon. friend has nothing at present to add to the Answer he returned to a similar Question put by the hon. Member for Darlington on the 11th ult., to the effect that these particular cases are still before the Prize Court and that the Embassy is doing all in its power to expedite the hearing.
§ MR. McARTHURI beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any reply has been received from the Russian Government to the representations made by His Majesty's Government with regard to the cases of the "Knight Commander," "Calchas," 877 And "Malacca," respectively; and what is the present position of the cases.
§ MR. J. A. PEASEAs regards the "Knight Commander," my right hon. friend must refer to the Answer he gave on the 2nd ult. to the hon. Member for North Hackney, in which he stated that the Russian Government had refused to submit the case to arbitration. His Majesty's Government have expressed their regret at this decision, and have set forth in an official despatch the grounds on which they are unable to share the views of the Imperial Government in declining to assent to their proposal. As my right hon. friend stated in his Answer to the hon. Member for Darlington on the 11th ult., the attention of the Russian Government has again been called to the case of the "Calchas." The Russian Government have agreed to pay a lump sum in satisfaction of the claims arising out of the detention of the Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamers "Malacca" and "Formosa," and these cases are in course of settlement.