§ 3. Sir W. DAVISONasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in connection with the refusal of the Government of the United States to allow liquor to remain under seal in British ships in American ports, the attention of that Government has been called to a dispatch forwarded by the American Government some years ago to the Spanish Government which, while admitting the legal right of every nation to prescribe the conditions on which foreign vessels should be admitted to their ports, laid down that these conditions must not conflict with the well-known and long-established usages regulating commercial intercourse between civilised nations which could not be violated without giving just cause of complaint to the nations whose interests would be affected by their violation; and what reply has been returned by the Government of the United States?
§ Mr. McNEILLThe answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The advisability of drawing the attention of the United States Government to the Note referred to is receiving consideration. According to Moore's "Digest of International Law," p. 269, Vol. II, the Note was communicated to the Spanish Government by the United States Minister in Madrid in 1852, and was substantially in the terms cited by the hon. Member.
§ Sir W. DAVISONHaving regard to the fact that, not only was a despatch of the nature indicated sent by the United States to the Spanish Government, but that it is actually now quoted in a leading manual on international law, will the hon. Gentleman take an early opportunity of drawing the attention of the United States Government to their own contention on this matter?
§ Mr. McNEILLThe Note referred to by my hon. Friend seems certainly to afford a precedent which might be followed, but I am unable to say at present whether it would be considered desirable to draw special attention to it.
§ Sir H. BRITTAINWhat is being done with the liquor taken from these ships? Is it destroyed, or is it being held until the question is settled?
§ Mr. McNEILLI have not myself taken sufficient interest in the fate of the liquor to ascertain that.
§ 13. Dr. CHAPPLEasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to a circular calling for subscriptions to a fund for the purposes of shipping 5,000 cases of whisky to the United States and of challenging the authority of a friendly Power in its attempt to enforce its own laws; and whether he proposes to take any steps in order to frustrate activities that may endanger friendly relations?
§ Mr. McNEILLI have seen the circular referred to, which the hon. Member was good enough to hand to me. As the hon. Member is aware, the whole subject to which this circular belongs is engaging the attention of His Majesty's Government.
§ Dr. CHAPPLEWill the hon. Gentleman say what is being done to frustrate the activities of these people who are endeavouring to set at defiance the laws of friendly nations, and will he say whether it is not more important to preserve friendly relations with America than that these people should make money out of exploiting this traffic?
§ Mr. McNEILLCertainly. The answer to the last part of the hon. Member's, question is in the affirmative, but I am not in a position at present to say what steps will be taken. The question is one which it is very difficult to decide.
§ Dr. CHAPPLEHas any effort been made to enter into negotiations with the representatives of the American Government and to receive their suggestions, in order to see how far, within the four corners of international law, we can be of assistance to them?
§ Mr. McNEILLI cannot say more than-that the whole matter is receiving consideration. There are a great many difficulties. I cannot put a whole kitchen garden into a nutshell.