§ 3. Mr. HOUSTONasked the Secretary for Foreign Affairs whether he can explain why British statutory listed enemy or pro-enemy firms were permitted by the British authorities to ship cargo at Buenos Ayres by the steamer "Santa Barbara," which sailed from that port on or about 1st November; whether the agent or broker for this steamer is a British subject residdent in Buenos Ayres; and whether this agent has been prohibited by the British authorities from accepting cargo from enemy or pro-enemy statutory listed firms in the steamships "Panaman" and "Kentuckian" previously loaded by this agent at Buenos Ayres for the United States?
§ Lord R. CECILThe cargo in question was shipped under a contract made before the shippers were placed upon the statutory list; the remaining parts of my hon. Friend's question do not, therefore, arise.
§ 5. Mr. HOUSTONasked the Secretary for Foreign Affairs whether a parcel of wolfram ore was shipped by a British statutory listed enemy firm on board the steamship "Ohioan" loaded at Buenos Ayres; whether the agent who loaded this steamer is a British subject resident at Buenos Ayres; whether the steamship "Ohioan" sailed from Buenos Ayres for the United States on or about 16th September, calling at Montevideo en route; if so, whether the British authorities compelled this parcel of wolfram ore to be discharged from the ship and landed at Montevideo; whether this parcel of wolfram ore was afterwards shipped on board the steamship "Kentuckian" for the United States; whether the principal steamship agent in the River Plate was the same in both cases and a British subject; and will he explain this transaction?
§ Lord R. CECILThe ore in question was shipped by one Melber, who is not on the statutory list; but as suspicion was aroused that this shipment was being made on behalf of a firm on the statutory list, the agent of the steamship company 1100 was asked to make inquiries, and as he could not get a satisfactory reply he caused the ore to be discharged at Montevideo. It was afterwards ascertained that the real shipper was a mining company not on the statutory list, so it was forwarded to the consignee by the steamship "Kentuckian." The agent in question is a British subject.
§ 6. Mr. HOUSTONasked the Secretary for Foreign Affairs whether some bales of rubber were shipped on board the steamship "Hostilius," at Montevideo, by the firm of Otero Borrazas, on or about the 12th October, for the United States; whether the "Hostilius" sailed from Montevideo on or about the 13th October; whether the British Minister at Montevideo notified Messrs. Dodero Brothers, the Montevideo agents of the steamer, on or about the 19th October, some six days after the steamer had sailed, that the shipment made by Borrazas was on account of Stofen Schnack Miiller, a Brazilian firm, whose name is on the British statutory list for Brazil; whether the name of Borrazas is yet on the British statutory list of enemy or pro-enemy firms for Uruguay, and, if not, why it is not on the list; whether the British Minister at Montevideo endeavoured to hold Dodero Brothers responsible for this shipment; whether the responsibility for this shipment lies with the British Minister at Montevideo or Dodero Brothers, seeing that the name of Otero Borrazas is not on the statutory list; whether representations have been made to the Foreign Office here, through diplomatic channels, from Allied Ministers in South America, of the bond fides, loyalty, and zeal of Dodero Brothers in supporting the Allied cause; whether the British Minister at Montevideo will be instructed by the Foreign Office to perform his own duties, and not altogether rely upon steamship agents at that port to do his work when he fails to give them proper instructions or advice regarding firms whose names are not on the statutory list; and whether, in the absence of such instructions or advice or the appearance of a firm's name on the British statutory list, steamship agents are, expected by the Foreign Office to refuse to engage cargo from a merchant or shipping agent who, in the absence of his name appearing on the British statutory list or of such advice, is presumably a loyal or neutral shipper?
§ Lord R. CECILThe facts are substantially as stated in the question. I cannot free Messrs. Dodero Brothers from responsibility for accepting the shipment of rubber made by Otero Borrazas since Messrs. Borrazas were known in Montevideo as far back as July last to be acting on occasion for the statutory-listed firm of Stofen Schnack Miiller, which is on the Statutory List. Messrs. Borrazas as a neutral firm of independent standing have not been included in the statutory list pending the result of representations which it is hoped will shortly lead to their giving a definite undertaking not to act for enemy firms in the future where British facilities are concerned. If such an undertaking is not given the firm will be placed on the statutory list.
With regard to the last part of the question, the statutory-list policy of His Majesty's Government can only be carried out in the spirit as well as in the letter by the closest co-operation between His Majesty's representatives abroad and the agents of British shipping companies, which co-operation is usually most loyally given.
His Majesty's Government are satisfied that there is not the slightest ground for the suggestion that His Majesty's Minister at Montevideo has failed in the performance of his duties.
§ Mr. HOUSTONAs the Noble Lord's reply is very unsatisfactory, I beg to give notice I shall deal with both question and reply at early date, either in Debate or otherwise.