§ 12. Mr. DAYasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has received the Report from the British Ambassador at Washington of the sinking of the British vessel, "I'm Alone," by an American ship; and can he give the House particulars?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINYes, Sir. The facts appear to be that in the early morning of March 20th last the schooner, "I'm Alone" which cleared from Belize, British Honduras, for Bermuda, encountered the United States revenue cutter, "Walcott," off the coast of Louisiana at a place which is alleged by the United States preventive authorities to be 500 miles off her course to Bermuda. The United States Government also allege that at the time when the "I'm Alone" was encountered by the "Walcott" she was within the limits prescribed by Article 2 of the Convention respecting the Regulation of the Liquor Traffic signed at Washington on 23rd January, 1924, but this is disputed. The master of the "I'm Alone" declined to obey the command of the officer in charge of the "Walcott" to heave to, and made off with the revenue vessel in pursuit. The chase continued until the morning of 22nd March, when the "I'm Alone" was sunk by gun-fire from the United States revenue cutter, "Dexter," which had joined in the chase some time earlier, the master of the "I'm Alone" still refusing to heave to. When the "I'm Alone" sank the master and crew were thrown into the sea, which at the time was running moderately high, but were able to reach the "Walcott" or the "Dexter," and were picked up by the crews of one or other of these vessels. The boatswain unhappily did not react to artificial respiration on board the "Walcott" and died.
The crew of the "I'm Alone" were taken to New Orleans and proceedings were initiated, but on 9th April these were discontinued, the charges against them being withdrawn.
12 On the same date the Canadian Minister at Washington, acting upon instructions from His Majesty's Government in Canada, made representations to the United States Government. His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom had previously been notified by His Majesty's Government in Canada of their intentions, and His Majesty's Ambassador at Washington was authorised to inform the United States Secretary of State, after the delivery of the Canadian note, that they shared the views of His Majesty's Government in Canada, and desired to support the action taken by them.
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINNot, I think, at present.
§ Major COLFOXCan my right hon. Friend say whether the pursuit was continuous or not?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINI would rather make no further statement, and, above all, offer no opinion of my own while the matter is still sub judice.
§ Mr. MACQUISTENIs it the case that all American liners have now themselves gone wet in defiance of the Prohibition Laws?