§ 2. Commander BELLAIRSasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will circulate with the Votes a translation of the Order under which Italy is confiscating enemy merchant 1911 vessels; and whether the example will have any effect on our own action in this matter?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Lord Robert Cecil)On 30th May the Italian Government issued a decree directing that enemy merchant vessels should be dealt with in accordance with the rules laid down in The Hague Convention. Since then a statement has appeared in the Press that the Italian Government have modified their attitude in this matter, and we have telegraphed to our Ambassador in Rome for confirmation of this report.