§ Mr. PETOasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has received any further communications relative to the case of the British steamer "Benhead" from His Majesty's Minister at Bucharest; whether he is aware that the master of the "Benhead" has succeeded in his appeal in Roumania against the sentence of twenty-five days' imprisonment inflicted upon him on a charge of using insulting language to the Roumanian port authorities at Sulina; whether he can take any steps in recouping the master the personal expenditure to which he has been subjected in proceeding from this country to Roumania in order to appeal against the unjustifiable imprisonment to which he was sentenced; and whether he proposes to take any steps that will ensure that in future the masters of British steamers shall receive adequate assistance and support in the proper discharge of their duties to the owners of ships and cargo when loading and discharging at Danubian ports?
§ Sir E. GREYHis Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires at Bucharest has reported that the master of the "Benhead" has succeeded in his appeal against the sentence of twenty-five days' imprisonment imposed, but not carried out upon him on a charge of using insulting language to the Roumanian port authorities at Sulina. I do not see that I can take any steps to recover from the Roumanian Government for the master of the vessel the cost of his journey to Roumania in order to attend the appeal. A similar claim would not be admitted in this country. The entire proceedings connected with the case have 941 been carried out in strict accordance with the law of Roumania and the master of the "Benhead" received all possible assistance and support from Sir Walter Townley, at that time His Majesty's Minister at Bucharest, and that being so there are no further steps that can be taken.
§ Mr. PETODid the right hon. Gentleman take any steps to allow the master of the "Benhead" to state his case and the circumstances which resulted in the detention of this British vessel and prevented the discharge of her cargo while he was in this country?
§ Sir E. GREYI am not aware that any opportunity has been refused to the master of the "Benhead." As I understand his case was very fully stated there, and was fully known at the British Legation at Bucharest.