The following question stood upon the Order Paper in the name of Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY:5. To ask the President of the Board of Trade what form of inquiry will be held into the loss of the s.s. 'Vestris'; whether the adequacy of the lifeboats and the arrangements for lowering them will be particularly examined into; and whether he can now give the probable cause of the sinking and of the loss of life.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYI put this question on the Paper before certain aspersions were cast on the officers and crew of the "Vestris." I dissociate myself from those aspersions.
§ Mr. H. WILLIAMSThe form of the inquiry into the loss of the "Vestris" is not yet decided, but of course it will cover all material points, including those mentioned in the question. This being so, I am sure the hon. and gallant Member will realise that it would not be possible for the Board of Trade at this stage to attempt to express any opinion as to the probable cause or causes of the loss.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYWhat action did the Department take when the Inquiry was ordered in New York, prior to the appointment of a British nautical assessor by the Board of Trade? Did the Board of Trade take any steps through our Consul-General to be represented at the Inquiry, particularly with a view to defending the reputation of the dead Captain?
§ Mr. WILLIAMSA. cablegram was sent at the earliest possible moment to our Consul-General in New York, giving him appropriate instructions.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYWhat were those instructions? Were they to the effect that the Board of Trade should be directly represented at the Inquiry, particularly for the purpose of defending the officers and crew?
§ Mr. WILLIAMSI would point out that our position in relation to a foreign tribunal is not one that is entirely easy, and perhaps the hon. and gallant Member will not press me unduly.
§ Mr. MACLEANIs not the holding of the Inquiry in New York likely to prejudice any Inquiry which may be held here later?
§ Mr. WILLIAMSClearly, I cannot properly answer a question like that. We have no control over the Government of the United States. We can only take the appropriate action open to us.
§ Mr. MACLEANWas not the ship registered here?
§ Mr. WILLIAMSYes.
§ Mr. MACLEANThen ought not the Inquiry to have been held here first?
§ Captain GARRO-JONESHas the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade been able to gather from the reports of the New York Inquiry whether State Attorney Tuttle was the President of the Court or the Prosecutor? Have representations been made to ensure that the good names of British sailors are protected?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat does not arise out of the question.
§ Mr. R. MORRISONCan the Parliamentary Secretary say whether the scope of the Inquiry will cover the efficiency or otherwise of the wireless service?
§ Mr. WILLIAMSQuite clearly, the Inquiry must cover everything that is pertinent to the cause of the disaster.
§ Mr. HAYESIs there any real status in regard to the Court now sitting, for the legal representation of British mercantile interests?
§ Mr. WILLIAMSI should not like to answer that question without notice. My recollection of previous Inquiries is that whatever legal assistance was necessary was provided.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSThe form of the Inquiry has not yet been settled. No 1516 Tribunal has yet been set up, and none of the witnesses are at this moment in this country.
§ Sir A. SHIRLEY BENNIs it not a fact that any British vessel carrying passengers out of United States ports is bound to have a certificate from the United States stating that she is fit and seaworthy?
§ Mr. WILLIAMSBroadly speaking, every foreign country issues passenger certificates for ships which are carrying passengers from ports of that particular country, except that in some cases where ships are coming here they may recognise our passenger certificate.