§ Sir R. THOMASasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will take action to prevent the smuggling by British nationals of alcoholic liquor into the United States of America, in violation of the law of a friendly Power, by requiring certificates that spirits shipped from bond are actually delivered at a specified port, and by issuing orders that clearance papers shall be refused to ships known to be bound for American waters with cargoes of liquor?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINI have been asked to reply. These, among other questions, were discussed at the conference with the United States officials in regard to which a statement was made in this House on 27th July, 1926, by my right hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. While it was not found practicable in the present state of the law to take measures 641W in the precise form described in the hon. Member's question, there is every reason to believe that the United States authorities were then, and are still, satisfied with the co-operation which has in fact been afforded as the result of that conference, and appreciate that these measures form a valuable extension of the facilities in respect of the right of search and seizure of vessels suspected of liquor smuggling outside territorial waters provided under the terms of the Convention between the United Kingdom and the United States of America respecting the regulation of the liquor traffic concluded on 23rd January, 1924.