This order addresses the legal framework governing the treatment of foreign deserters from merchant ships within the jurisdiction of the United Kingdom. The document is issued by the British government to formalize the disapplication of specific statutory provisions regarding the apprehension and return of deserters. It serves as a regulatory instrument to align domestic maritime law with international obligations and changing diplomatic policies regarding foreign merchant vessels.

Legal professionals and maritime historians utilize this document as a primary source for understanding the evolution of British shipping regulations. It is considered a technical administrative record rather than a narrative text, serving primarily as a reference for legislative compliance.