MR. HEADLAMsaid, he would beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the demand for compensation made on behalf of the British Engineers, Park and Watt, has been conceded by the Neapolitan Government, and whether they have been released unconditionally? Also, whether the Sardinian subjects who constituted part of the crew of the Cagliari are still detained by the Neapolitan Government?
THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERsaid, the British Engineers, Park and Watt, were released unconditionally. No compensation had yet been made on their behalf. The Sardinian subjects who constituted part of the crew of the Cagliari were still detained by the Neapolitan Government.
§ MR. ROEBUCKsaid, he wished to ask the question which the right hon. Gentleman had not answered; namely, whether compensation has been refused by the Neapolitan Government.
THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERsaid, it was very inconvenient to have questions on such matters put without notice. Questions of compensation or indemnity were not matters which ought to be settled off hand. The Government believed that the compensation which they had demanded for the British Engineers was a just claim, and therefore they thought they should succeed in obtaining it.
§ MR. ROEBUCKsaid, the question whether the demand had been conceded involved the question whether it had been refused, and therefore the right hon. Gentleman had full notice of the question which had been put to him.