MR. OTWAYasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether he has been informed that French political prisoners have been placed by the French police on board British steamers and landed in this Country since the publication of the Correspondence between the two Governments relating to this matter, and that so lately as Friday last four prisoners from Dieppe were landed at Newhaven; and, under these circumstances, whether he will state what steps Her Majesty's Government purpose taking to insure the fulfilment of the assurances which have been repeatedly given to Parliament on this subject?
§ VISCOUNT ENFIELDSir, my hon. Friend showed me a letter about three hours ago from Mr. Knight, the General Manager of the South Eastern Railway, stating that on the 9th instant four Frenchmen, and on the 15th instant six Frenchmen, had been put on board the 1996 English steamer at Dieppe and landed at Newhaven, presumably by the French police. The Secretary of State's attention was at once called to this matter, and a despatch has been this evening sent to Lord Lyons, requesting him to bring this report immediately under the notice of the French Government. As it is stated that some of these men paid their own fares up to London, it is possible that there may have been some mistake in the statement that they had been forcibly deported by the French authorities.