§ 4. Sir FORTESCUE FLANNERYasked whether the German Government have cancelled the Import Duty on food-stuff from Denmark and from Holland; whether the disaster to the two Danish vessels, steamships "Maryland" and "C. H. R. Broberg," sunk by mines, will tend to divert Danish produce from England to Germany; and whether the Government have taken any steps to assure the continuance of the importation of foodstuff from Denmark to England as heretofore?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI am having inquiries made as to the reported action of the German Government with regard to duties on Danish and Dutch foodstuffs, and I will inform the hon. Baronet as soon as I hear the result. I trust that the action which is being taken by His Majesty's Navy will have the effect of keeping open the trade routes between Denmark and this country. I should add that the mines referred to in the question were laid down by the Germans, and that no mines have been laid down in the North Sea by British ships.