§ 2. Sir HILDRED CARLILEasked the right hon. Gentleman whether he has received any assurances from the Turkish Government on the continued opening of the Dardanelles to trade?
§ Sir E. GREYWe are aware of the great injury that would be done to British shipping and commerce by the closing of the Straits, and we shall, as we have already done on a previous occasion this year, do all we can to secure that no impediments are placed in the way of the passage of innocent neutral trade, but before I could say definitely that there was no danger of the Straits being closed, it would be necessary to have an understanding with both belligerents.
§ Sir H. CARLILEIs the right hon. Gentleman now in communication with the Turkish Government on the subject?
§ Sir E. GREYI may point out to the hon. Member that it is not enough in a case of war, in a case of this kind, to communicate only with one of the belligerents. You must communicate with both. We have, as a matter of fact, been in communication with both belligerents. As the House will know, from what passed earlier in the year, it is very difficult to be quite certain of what will take place.
§ 3. Mr. HOLTasked whether, in the event of a British ship being seized and condemned by a Prize Court of either Greece or Turkey, there will be any appeal to an impartial tribunal; and, if not, what steps the right hon. Gentleman proposes to take to secure such an appeal?
§ Sir E. GREYNo tribunal exists to which appeals from any decision of the National Courts of the belligerents would 2343 lie. The establishment of an International Court of Appeal in Prize cases of the nature contemplated in the convention negotiated at the last Peace Conference at The Hague in 1907, is the only step that can be taken to secure such an appeal.
§ Mr. HOLTMay I ask whether, seeing the extreme annoyance caused to British trade by the Prize Courts during the Russo-Japanese war, the right hon. Gentleman will not make some representations to Greece and Turkey as to the desirability of accepting a reference to The Hague Tribunal, before any captures take place?
§ Sir E. GREYI am afraid that the only remedy, as I have said, is the establishment of an International Court of Appeal. As my hon. Friend knows, we have been anxious to secure that, but until that is secured, I am afraid we cannot be certain of having any appeals.
§ Mr. KINGWill the Naval Prize Bill be introduced this Session as promised?
§ Sir E. GREYI think the answer the Prime Minister gave was that we hope to introduce it next year.
§ 45. Sir J. D. REESasked the Prime Minister whether the attitude of His Majesty's Government in respect of the war in the Balkans is one of strict neutrality?
§ 48. Mr. NORMAN CRAIGasked the right hon. Gentleman whether his attention has been called to a speech made by the Secretary to the Treasury in which he asked his hearers to sympathise with the Balkan States in having suffered for years through the murders and pillage of the Turks, and made other statements inconsistent with a profession of neutrality; and whether such statement was made with the knowledge or approval of the Government?
§ The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Asquith)The answer to the first question is yes. This and the subsequent question, which stands in the name of the hon. Member for the Isle of Thanet Division (No. 48), were disposed of yesterday.
§ Sir J. D. REESThe question was put down before the answer was given yesterday.
§ The PRIME MINISTERI answered it in the affirmative.
§ Sir d. D. REESDoes the right hon. Gentleman consider it consistent with strict neutrality for the Chancellor of the Exchequer in a public speech to hope that as a result of the war the boundaries of freedom and good government would be extended?
§ The PRIME MINISTERCertainly. I understand my right hon. Friend to have expressed the hope that that would be the result whichever side was victorious.
§ Sir J. D. REESDid the Chancellor of the Exchequer qualify his words by saying "whichever side was victorious"? If so, it is very unfortunate that he was not reported.