§ 70. Colonel MORDENasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he has fully consulted the British Dominions and Colonies before commencing his negotiations with General Andrews of the 1913 United States Government; and can he give full assurance that no further concessions as to the right of search of British ships will be given?
§ 72. Mr. REMERasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he can make any statement as to the negotiations which are taking place with General Andrews as to the liquor laws in the United States of America; and if he can give an undertaking that no further concessions will be made affecting British shipping?
Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONI will, if I may, answer these questions together, and apologise for the length of the reply.
As vessels engaged in liquor smuggling frequently make use of the British flag, and proceed from ports and places within British jurisdiction, questions have from time to time arisen between the Government of the United States and His Majesty's Government with regard to this traffic, and it was decided that a meeting should take place in London between officials of the two Governments to go fully into the matter.
As the discussion was one between officials, no question of policy or politics could arise, nor was any past practice or incident called in question save with a view to avoiding future difficulties. The first object of those present was to ascertain all the facts so that both sides could understand clearly and fully exactly what was taking place. It was felt that if this were done with goodwill and in a scientific spirit it should be possible to devise means for meeting the difficulties that had been encountered in the respective countries in administering the law. The discussion was, therefore, of a very frank nature, every fact or difficulty in the minds of either side being brought forward and discussed without reserve.
The information in the possession of each side supplemented that possessed by the other, and attention was concentrated on the infringements of the law that have been, and are being, committed by the persons engaged in this traffic. In many cases the vessels have been placed on the British register illegally, and in certain cases where they use ports or places within British Colonies there appears to be a failure to comply with definite pro- 1914 visions of the law relating to clearances, quarantine and other matters. The object of the officials was to secure that these infractions of the law shall be dealt with and shall cease. There is no question whatever of interfering in any way with legitimate trade, which should have no difficulty in distinguishing itself from the illicit traffic.
If the information possessed by both sides is pooled, and a close working liaison established between the officers engaged in dealing with the traffic, so that each side knows what the other is doing, and can render any proper and requisite assistance to the other, and if any additional force that may be necessary to secure the strict observance of the law is supplied, it should be possible to reduce very materially the causes for complaint or misunderstanding.
With this object, the officials have made definite suggestions of an administrative nature, and these are now being considered by the two Governments. For obvious reasons it is not desirable that the text of the suggestions should be published until they have been fully considered and have become effective. There has been no question at these meetings of any extension of the right of search.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYMay I ask whether, in cases where vessels have got upon the British register illegally, they will at once be taken off that register?
Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONI have given a very full statement. Perhaps the hon. and gallant Member will study it, and then put down any question he wishes to ask.
§ Mr. REMERMay I ask whether the British Colonies and Dominions have been consulted on this subject?
Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONYes, at all these meetings a representative of the Colonial Office has been present.
§ Mr. MACQUISTENIs it not the fact that it has been discovered that the smuggling is entirely done by Americans, and that British subjects do not break the law? They may sell to people who are smuggling, but they themselves are not breaking the law.