§ 22. Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the ship "Beijerland," of Rotterdam, was taken over by the Admiralty in the middle of March and released at Liverpool on or about the 30th March; and, if so, what was her cargo and why was the ship released?
§ The MINISTER of BLOCKADE (Lord Robert Cecil)The facts are as stated. The vessel was loaded with a cargo of soda for Holland under a contract existing between His Majesty's Government and the Dutch Soda Commission. Any other course would have involved the broach of an existing agreement.
§ Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSDoes the right hon. Gentleman know from what firm the soda came?
§ Lord R. CECILNo Sir. If my hon. Friend wants that information, he must put down a further question.