§ 2. Commander BELLAIRSasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what are the subjects which are to be referred to an International Arbitration Court after the War under the agreement with Sweden; and whether the Government have fully considered the danger of any reference of our Prize Court decisions to revision by an International Arbitration Court?
§ Sir E. GREYThe discussions with the Swedish Government on this subject are not yet terminated, and there are obvious 1675 objections to making a statement as to the terms of an understanding before it is finally settled. It is hoped to lay the correspondence on the subject before Parliament shortly. Meanwhile I would remind the hon. Member that the attitude of His Majesty's Government in regard to this question of arbitration on issues raised in the Prize Court was clearly indicated in the Note addressed to the United States Ambassador at this Court on 31st July, 1915, the text of which has already been laid before Parliament.
§ Commander BELLAIRSWill not anything in the nature of setting up an International Prize Court be a violation of municipal law and have to come before Parliament?
§ Sir E. GREYI do not think it has to come before Parliament in order to refer questions to arbitration.
§ Commander BELLAIRSMust not any revision of the decisions of the Prize Court under municipal law obviously come before Parliament?
§ Sir E. GREYI imagine that it is open to His Majesty's Government at any time to make friendly settlements of questions with other countries. If the hon. Member has a legal point to raise and will put a question upon the Paper, I will have it looked into by the competent authorities.