§ MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether he will communicate to the House the Reports of Her Majesty's Chief Consul at Madagascar as to the recent demands made by the French commanders upon the Malagasy Government, and the negotiations thereupon, and also his Reports as to the losses inflicted upon British subjects by the French operations; and, whether the 85 blockade of the island has lately been made more stringent?
§ LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICENo, Sir; it is not desirable at this moment to lay further Papers on the Table. I have already informed the hon. Member that the claims for losses cannot be determined until the conclusion of hostilities. In regard to the blockade, the French Admiral has recently intimated to the captain of the Tourmaline his intention to extend it to Mahanoro and Fenerivo; but no formal notification of a further blockade of the coast, beyond that already established, has been received.
§ MR. ASHMEAD - BARTLETTgave Notice that he would, on an early occasion, call attention to the ignorance and inactivity of Her Majesty's Ministers in regard to that important subject.