HC Deb 30 October 1911 vol 30 cc530-2
Mr. BUTCHER

asked the Prime Minister whether he will state the reasons why His Majesty's Government advised His Majesty the King to omit from his recent Proclamation of Neutrality the especial warning against breaking any blockade lawfully established and against carrying officers, soldiers, despatches, arms, ammunition, military stores or material, or any article or articles considered to be contraband of war according to the law or modern usages of nations for the use or service of either belligerent Power; whether, seeing that this especial warning was given in the Proclamation of Neutrality of February, 1904, the omission of such warning on the present occasion is intended to signify that His Majesty's Privy Council take a different view of the duties of the King's subjects from that taken seven years ago; and whether it is to be understood that there is now no longer any harm in breaking blockade or in carrying contraband of war to belligerents?

Mr. ACLAND

The language used in the King's Proclamation of Neutrality, issued on the 3rd instant, was designed with a view to bringing it into closer harmony with modern requirements and usage than did the phraseology employed in similar instruments issued in past years. The carriage of contraband to a belligerent is not an offence against English law, but is undertaken subject to the usual risk of capture, and the penalties attaching thereto. The same principle applies to breaches, or attempted breaches, of blockade. That being so, it appeared to His Majesty's Government no longer necessary to state that British subjects concerned in such operations would thereby necessarily incur the high displeasure of the Sovereign, and the King was accordingly advised to omit the phraseology referred to from his recent Proclamation. No inference should, however, be drawn from this change of wording that British subjects are no longer liable to the pains and penalties recognised by the Law of Nations if, at their own risk, they embark on such transactions.

Mr. ASHLEY

Can the hon. Gentleman say why it was put in former Proclamations?

Mr. ACLAND

I cannot give an answer to that question.

Mr. BUTCHER

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that His Majesty's subjects were specially warned against any breach of blockade and the carriage of contraband in all proclamations of neutrality issued by this country in 1859, 1866, 1870, 1877, 1898, and 1904?

Mr. SPEAKER

The hon. Member is giving information, not asking for it.

Mr. BUTCHER

I am asking the hon. Gentleman whether his attention has been called to that fact.

Mr. ACLAND

Perhaps the hon. Member will put his question on the Paper?

Mr. BUTCHER

May I ask whether His Majesty's Government do not consider it desirable to warn British subjects of the consequences which follow from a breach of blockade and the carriage of contraband?

Mr. SPEAKER

The hon. Member should give notice of important international questions of that sort.