44. Mr. SANDEMAN ALLENasked President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the barque "Birkdale," of 1,438 tons gross, registered at the port of Liverpool and flying the British flag, is now bound for a port in the United Kingdom under the command of an un-certificated German with a Russian first mate and German second and third mates, most of the crew also being Germans; whether the Board of Trade intend to take action under Section 5 (1) of the Aliens Restriction (Amendment) Act, 1919; and whether this vessel will be permitted to leave a port in the United Kingdom flying the British flag with an alien master and chief officer?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERAccording to information which I have received from His Majesty's Consul at Callao, the sailing vessel "Birkdale" left that port on the 3rd July bound for the United Kingdom. The master and second mate were Peruvians, holding Peruvian certificates of competency; the first mate was a United States citizen with a United States certificate, and the third mate was a Brazilian. The crew were composed of three British subjects, two United States citizens, two Swedes, two Finns, one Swiss, one Italian, one Peruvian and one Argentine. The ship had been laid up in Peru for a considerable time, and British officers could not be obtained there. Further inquiries will be made as soon as the vessel arrives, and I will inform my hon. Friend of the result of those inquiries.
§ Lieut.-Colonel Sir JOSEPH NALL; Will the right hon. Gentleman ask the British Dyestuffs Corporation whether they can produce colours for a suitable flag?