§ Lord CHARLES BERESFORDasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the official statement that the-Government do not admit the right of foreign nations to convert merchant ships into men-of-war on the high seas, he will state to the House what action the Government will take if foreign merchant ships are so converted; and whether, in the event of such ships preying upon our mercantile marine, they will be treated as pirates when caught?
§ The FIRST LORD of the ADMIRALTY (Mr. McKenna)The action to be taken will be a matter for the decision of His Majesty's Government when the occasion arises.