§ MR. CATHCART WASON (Orkney and Shetland)I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware that persons trading in
† See page 188.1195 the Congo Free State, under the provisions of the Ordinance of the 29th August, 1896, have had their property and merchandise confiscated; and if, in view of the fact that the guarantee of the Congo Free State to foreigners of the right of navigation, commerce, and industry has been rendered null and void by the Free State having declared the country private property, he will state what steps the Government propose to take in conjunction with the other Powers that were parties to the Convention.
§ THE UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Earl PERCY, Kensington, S.)We have received no information of the character described, but an inquiry is being made. As the hon. Member is aware, the question whether the system of trade now prevailing in the Congo State is in harmony with the provisions of the Berlin Act is one of those to which the attention of the Powers was drawn in the British Circular of the 8th August last.