§ 54. Mr. BUTCHERasked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the fact that Her late Majesty Queen Victoria's Proclamation of 17th September, 1900, was in force at the beginning of this War, on 4th August, 1914, and was not cancelled until the Order in Council of 28th August, 1914, he will state why the prize money arising from prizes made between the 4th and the 28th August has not been distributed in accordance with the Proclamation then in force; and whether he is in a position to say when it will be so distributed?
§ Mr. McKENNAI am advised that the Proclamation of 17th September, 1900, merely governed the distribution of prize money which might be granted, the actual grant of prize money being dealt with in accordance with precedent by a Proclamation to be issued at the beginning 1607 of and for the purpose of each particular war. In any event a captor acquires no right to the proceeds of prize until the prize has been duly adjudicated upon, and the Proclamation of 17th September, 1900, was recalled, so far as regards prize money, on the 28th August, 1914. So far as I am aware, no prize was condemned before the 28th August, 1914. The first sitting of the Prize Court in London was held on the 4th September, 1914.
§ Mr. BUTCHERWere there not several prizes captured between 4th August and 28th August, 1914, and would not the captors of those prizes be entitled, by virtue of the Proclamation, to prize money?
§ Mr. McKENNANo. As I understand the law on the subject, which my hon. and learned Friend knows better than I, captors acquire no right to the proceeds of a prize, except the prize has been adjudicated upon. There was no adjudication before 28th August.