HC Deb 23 February 1869 vol 194 cc207-8
SIR JAMES ELPHINSTONE

said, he would beg to ask the Vice President of the Committee of Council, Whether an outbreak of Rinderpest has been reported to have taken place in Germany; and, whether the Dutch Government have not despatched a staff of officials to Zevenaar to exercise an active supervision over the German frontier?

MR. W. E. FORSTER

said, the Government had no intimation of an outbreak of rinderpest in Germany, nor any reason to believe the report true. Immediately Notice of the Question had been given questions were forwarded by telegraph to various places on the Continent, but the only answer received was from the Hague. It was true the Dutch had despatched officials to the German frontier, not, however, in consequence of an outbreak of rinderpest in Germany, but because of its existence in Gallicia and Transylvania; and the Government believed the existence of rinderpest in these countries had given rise to the rumour.