§ 13. Commander BELLAIRSasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Netherlands Government fully understands that the right of visit and search will unquestionably be exercised in reference to all the ships of the Dutch convoy on the homeward voyage or any voyage subsequent to the arrival of the ships in the Dutch colonies?
Mr. BALFOURYes, Sir. The correspondence recently published should leave no room for doubt on this point.
§ 14. Commander BELLAIRSasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether there is any tendency to a circle of requests for immunity for armed convoys on the part of other neutrals in consequence of what has happened in connection with the Dutch convoy; and whether, if such suggestions, requests, or demands in future are proffered, they will be met in accordance with the well-known judgment of Sir Walter Scott in 1799 in the case of the Swedish convoy?
Mr. BALFOURNo such requests have reached His Majesty's Government, and, as explained in the recent communication to the Netherlands Government, they could not be entertained.