§ MR. ONSLOWasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether it is true that the Austro-Hungarian Government has addressed an elaborate remonstrance to Her Majesty's Government in regard to the case of Herr Silbiger, an Austrian subject, versus the Maharajah of Jeypore, showing that the alleged arbitration (on which Her Majesty's Government had relied in former communications on the subject with the Austro-Hungarian Government) had been a mere burlesque of justice; whether it is true that Her Majesty's Government have not attempted to meet the proofs offered by the Austro-Hungarian Government, but have simply declined to re-open the question; and, whether the Papers on the subject can be laid before Parliament?
§ MR. J. K. CROSS(who answered the Question) said: It is the case that in May last the Austrian Government, through their Representative in London, requested a further consideration of Herr Silbiger's claim, enclosing certain documents in support of their application. The matter was again fully considered by the Secretary of State in Council, with the result that there appeared no ground for re-opening here a question on which the Government of India had more than once expressed a very decided view. The further Papers submitted have, however, been forwarded to that Government. An intimation to the foregoing effect has, I believe, been made to the Austrian Ambassador, who, it is right I should mention, was informed in some detail, in March, 1881, of the grounds of the decision arrived at by the Indian Government in the matter.