MR. GORSTasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether Sir Edward Malet has given the assurances referred to in a Foreign Office Telegram of 4th December 1884, that Great Britain will respect the independence of Samoa and Tonga; whether reciprocal assurances have been received 104 from the German Government; and, whether there is any objection to lay upon the Table the Documents in which these reciprocal assurances are recorded?
LORD EDMOND FITZMAUEICESir Edward Malet did give the assurances referred to in accordance with his Instructions, and reciprocal assurances were received from the German Government. The documents recording those assurances have already been laid in the Parliamentary Papers on New Guinea presented last month (C. 4,273), and are numbered 73,136, and 181.
MR. GORSTMay I ask whether the German Government considers itself bound by the statements made in the despatch of Lord Granville to Sir Edward Malet?