§ MR. DARBY GRIFFITHsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether any advance has been made by the Spanish Government 1003 towards the settlement of the long standing claims of the owners of the Queen Victoria; and, if not, whether he sees any prospect of justice being done in that respect, without stronger pressure being put on the Spanish Government in regard to it than has hitherto been employed?
LORD STANLEYSir, the case of the vessel referred to by the hon. Member is this: On the 15th of January, Mr. Dunlop, the British Consul at Cadiz, wrote to the Foreign Office, inclosing a letter from the agent, stating the case of the owners. Sir John Crampton was asked to report upon that statement. He did so on the 28th of January, to the effect that the Spanish Government alleged that the delay which had taken place in the settlement of this matter had been caused by the plaintiffs having failed to supply the necessary information. Sir John Crampton suggested that the plaintiffs should state, in detail, the steps they had taken to supply the evidence required. This they have been asked to do in a letter dated the 3rd of February, but no answer has as yet been received from them. In the mean time, I have instructed Sir John Crampton to lose no opportunity of pressing the Spanish Government for an early settlement, and I do not think, as the matter now stands, that any further steps are required.