In a debate in th: House of Commons o1 the Steamship Com-Dination, several speakers emphasised the danger to the country of the transference of fast cruisers to a foreign flag, besides the loss of the carrying trade, In replying, Mr. A. J. Balfour said that the Government had obtained much information on the subject, but being pledged to secrecy, to debate it now would be a great mistake. He added that arrangement had been made for giving the Admiralty as complete a control over the ships whereon the Government had a lien as before, It was difficult to prevent British subjects from selling their property to foreigners; and nobody could expect the Government to depart from the traditional policy of unrestricted competition without careful investigation of the complex problems involved.—Reuter.
London oth May.
It is reported from New York that the Groat Steamship Combine has the intention of including in_ its business Oriental routes of trade—Special service.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.