HC Deb 10 May 1872 vol 211 cc605-7
MR. SERJEANT SIMON

asked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether any information has been received at the Colonial Office respecting the seizure and detention by the Spanish authorities at Manzanilla in Cuba of a vessel called the "Lark," belonging to Jamaica, which, under stress of weather, had been obliged to put into that port, or had been taken there by a Spanish gunboat in January last; whether, notwithstanding the production of her papers and her clearance, showing her port of destination, and the explanation of the circumstances which had obliged her to seek refuge at Manzanilla, and in spite of the assurances and remonstrances of the British Consul at that place, the vessel was detained for eight days under the alleged suspicion that she was conveying arms to the Cuban insurgents, although search had been made and no arms had been found on board; whether, under these circumstances, and without being taken before the Consul or any official person for examination, the owner, a merchant of Jamaica, a passenger, and the crew, consisting in all of seven British subjects, were taken on shore as prisoners and confined during the period mentioned in the common prison, among criminals of every description, many of whom were afflicted with loathsome and offensive diseases; and, under such circumstances of hardship and suffering, without even a bed or a seat to rest upon, except such as they were able after a time to procure at their own expense, that their health became more or less affected; whether before they could obtain their release they were required and obliged to sign a document professing to thank the Spanish authorities for the kindness with which they had been treated, and promising not to make any claim for compensation; and, whether Her Majesty's Government have taken, or intend to take, any and what steps to obtain redress and to procure compensation for these injured persons?

SIR JOHN PAKINGTON

Sir, before the hon. Gentleman replies, I desire to ask, Whether a Question of this unusual length, and containing a recital of so large a number of details, which may or may not be accurate, is in accordance with the Rules of the House?

MR. SPEAKER

In answer to the appeal of the right hon. Baronet, I am bound to say that the Question cannot be held to be out of Order. At the same time, I feel equally bound to say, that the Question is of such a character that, if the hon. Gentleman to whom it is addressed should object to answer all the facts alluded to on this occasion, the hon. and learned Member who puts it might—and, perhaps, more properly—find himself under the necessity of putting the Question on the Paper as a Notice of a Motion on the subject.

MR. KNATCHBULL-HUGESSEN

Sir, with all deference to your decision, I do not think that this Question is one which would have been better presented in the form of a Motion, and if the hon. and learned Gentleman had not stated the facts in his Question, I fear I must have detained the House by a longer statement than will now be necessary. Communications have been received upon this subject both from the Governor of Jamaica and from Her Majesty's Consul General in Cuba. Those communications convey to us intelligence very much in accordance with the statements made in the Question of my hon. and learned Friend. Immediately upon the receipt of that intelligence at the Colonial Office, we communicated with the Foreign Office, and without loss of time representations have been made to the Spanish Government through the British Minister at Madrid. Her Majesty's Government are at present awaiting the reply to those representations from the Spanish Government.

MR. SERJEANT SIMON

said, he desired by way of justification to say that he had consulted his hon. Friend as to the form in which he should put the Question, and that in its present shape it had received the sanction of his hon. Friend before being placed on the Paper.