§ 48. Viscount SANDONasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has examined the contract with the International Mercantile Marine Company with regard to the question whether he has powers under it to prevent the transference of the Leyland or other British lines to the United States flag, and what action he proposes to take?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of TRADE (Sir Philip Cunliffe-Lister)Clause 3 of the Agreement with the International Mercantile Marine Company of 1st August, 1903, printed on page 4 of Parliamentary Paper Cd. 1704 of 1903, provides that
No British ship in the association, nor any ship which may hereafter be built or otherwise acquired for any British company included in the association, shall be transferred to a foreign registry (without the written consent of the President of the Board of Trade, which shall not be unreasonably withheld), nor be nor remain upon a foreign registry. Nothing shall be otherwise done whereby any such ship would lose its British registry or its right to fly the British flag.No application has been made for permission to transfer any of the lines in the Association to a foreign flag.