§ MR. G. GOOCH (Bath)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the invitations to the Naval Conference to be held in London in the autumn have been issued; whether the subjects of discussion have been finally settled; whether it will be open to any Power to raise the question of the 1264 capture of private property at sea in time of war; and whether the House will have an opportunity of discussing the programme of the Conference before it takes place.
§ SIR EDWARD GREYInvitations have been issued. The desire of His Majesty's Government is to discuss certain points on which it is essential for us that we should have an agreement with the chief naval Powers before ratifying the Prize Court Convention. The most important of these points are the rules of blockade and contraband. The capture of private property at sea is not included in this category. I cannot say what subjects other Powers may desire to raise, but it is desirable that the discussion should be concentrated on the points specially relevant to the Prizes Court Convention. It is not proposed to submit any programme to the House for discussion.