§ MR. KIMBER (Wandsworth)asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether the expected Despatch from Venezuela, respecting the claims of British subjects arising out of the outrages committed on the crews and passengers of the ships Henrietta and Josephine, and the illegal seizure of those ships, has been received; whether the amount of the claim made on their behalf by the British representative in Venezuela was not, by his error, understated, and why such error was refused rectification; whether, and when, the papers promised by the late Under Secretary on the subject will be laid before Parliament; and, what is proposed to be done by the present Government to ensure justice being done to British subjects and British commerce in the matter?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Sir JAMES FERGUSSON) (Manchester, N.E.)Yes, Sir, that despatch has been received, and will be included in the Papers on the subject of Venezuelan claims which have already been laid upon the Table, and will be immediately distributed. I have learnt on inquiry that the claims on behalf of the crews and passengers of the Henrietta and Josephine were stated at a lower rate than that claimed by the persons concerned, after being assessed by the British Minister in Venezuela in communication with the Governor of Trinidad and the British Vice Consul at La Guaira; but any errors in the items of claim can be rectified when the time arrives for verifying and discussing them. The Venezuelan Government have declined to admit the validity of the claims, and a further communication is about to be made to them, which it is hoped may induce them to reconsider their decision.