§ MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether he will communicate to the House the full text of the Despatch from Zanzibar which described the death of Her Majesty's Consul and the insult to the British flag at Tamatave; and, whether it is intended to send more ships of war to defend British interests at Madagascar?
§ LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICENo such despatch as that described by the hon. Member has been received. The information, as stated by the Prime Minister, was contained in a telegram from Colonel Miles, Acting Agent and Consul General at Zanzibar. It would be altogether premature to present Correspondence now in regard to an affair of so delicate a character while still pending. It is not the present intention of Her Majesty's Government to send more ships to Madagascar.
§ MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTasked whether the despatch or telegram by which the information was conveyed was not originally sent from the commander of Her Majesty's Ship Dryad, and whether there was any other ship of war at present on the Madagascar coast besides the Dryad?
§ LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICEI gave full information to the House the other day as to the ships in these waters. They are the Dragon, the Dryad, and a third ship, which was sent there by the Admiralty. Whether these ships are actually at Tamatave I cannot say; but I believe the Dragon and the Dryad are both off there at this moment.