§ 6. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has further considered the question of oil in navigable waters and the general damage and nuisance it causes: if he is aware that the Congress 222 of the United States of America passed a resolution in 1922 requesting the President to call an international conference to deal with this matter; and whether, in view of the long delay and the continuance of this nuisance, he will advise His Majesty's Government to call such a conference, or, alternatively, instruct the British delegates at the Assembly of the League of Nations to raise the matter with a view to international action?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply given yesterday to the hon. Member for Kingston-on-Thames (Mr. Penny), of which I am sending him a copy.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYThat answer does not refer at all to the question of the Council of the Assembly of the League of Nations. Is it not the fact that the United States Government are awaiting further information, and would it not help in the collection of this information if the matter were raised at the Council by the British representatives?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI should not think it would. I will bring the matter to the notice of the Foreign Secretary, but I think it will be much more effective if the United States, who have undertaken to convene an International Conference as soon as possible, take the initiative. The Government will cooperate with the United States Government in any way they can.