The Committee referred to by my hon. Friend met at Geneva in November last, and its report has already been considered by the Council of the League. The present position in regard to this matter is briefly as follows:

The Communications and Transit Organisation of the League of Nations appointed a Committee of Experts to conduct a preliminary examination into the question of the pollution of the sea by oil. This committee met under the chairmanship of Mr. Grimshaw, of the British Board of Trade, and was attended by fully qualified representatives of Italy, the United States, Denmark, France and Japan. The committee recommended to the Council through the Communications and Transit Organisation that efforts should be made to conclude an international convention for the prevention of oil pollution. The Council approved this recommendation on the 11th January, and authorised the Communications and Transit Organisation to make all necessary preparatory studies with a view to facilitating the conclusion of such a convention. In pursuance of this resolution the Secretary-General has already circulated a questionnaire to Governments, and has asked that the replies should be sent in by the 31st May. On receipt of these replies, the Communications and Transit Organisation are called upon, in accordance with the procedure laid down for the negotiation of general conventions under the auspices of the League of Nations, to prepare a draft convention for communication to Governments. The Assembly of the League has also to take cognisance of the draft convention and to decide whether the subject appears prima facie suitable for the conclusion of a. convention. It is hoped that the Assembly will be in a position to take this decision at its next meeting. I will send my hon. Friend the particulars about the members of the committee if he desires it.