§ MR. JOYNSON-HICKSI beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that during the past few days seven or eight Atlantic cables have been cut or otherwise damaged off the West Coast of Ireland by steam trawlers, causing interference in commercial business between the United Kingdom and the United States and Canada; whether warnings are issued to the proprietors of steam trawlers as to the exact locations of the cables; and, if not, whether he will take this and any other possible measures to safeguard the commercial interests of the community.
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. CHURCHILL,) Dundee1710 I have received representations from several bankers, brokers, merchants, and shipowners, to the effect that there has been damage to submarine cables off the West Coast of Ireland, and my right hon. friend the Secretary of State for Foreign. Affairs informs me that he has received a similar representation from the American Ambassador. I understand that the subject has also been brought before the notice of my right hon. friend the Postmaster-General by the companies concerned, and the question has been raised at the International Telegraph Conference now sitting. I cannot say whether this damage, which took place some fifty miles from the Coast, has been caused by the operations of steam trawlers, but I am making inquiries, and am considering in consultation with my right hon. friend the Postmaster-General whether any steps can be taken under the International Telegraph Convention and the Submarine Telegraph Act, or otherwise, for the protection of the cables, assuming the trawlers to be in fault. I understand that one of the companies concerned has recently substituted a stronger type of cable in the area affected, with good results. There are very often obvious objections to showing the routes of these cables on the Admiralty charts, but His Majesty's Government will take whatever steps may be possible to safeguard the commercial interests of the community in regard to this matter.