§ Mr. J. S. HARMOOD-BANNERasked whether there has been any opportunity during the last month to impress upon His Majesty the. Czar's Ministers the desirability of paying to a British subject the damages for sinking and destroying the steamer "St. Kilda," which were ordered and admitted by the Supreme Court of Appeal in St. Petersburg on the 24th December last?
§ Sir E. GREYThe Supreme Prize Court have already given a decision admitting, in principle, the claims of the owners of the "St. Kilda" to compensation. The 1072 precise amount of that compensation was not settled by the Supreme Court, and remains to be assessed by the Libau Court, which, I am informed, will sit in the course of the ensuing autumn. His Majesty's Embassy at St. Petersburg have done all in their power to expedite the hearing of the case.
§ Mr. HARMOOD-BANNERDoes that mean that it will be 12 months before British subjects will obtain any relief?
§ Sir E. GREYThe question in principle has been decided in favour, but the amount of compensation cannot, I understand, be assessed till the court sits in the ordinary course.