§ MR. ALEXANDER M'ARTHURasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, When the question of the disputed Boundary at Delagoa Bay, which the English and Portuguese Government have agreed to refer to the President of the French Republic, will proceed to arbitration; whether he is aware that the Portuguese Government have published a series of Despatches in which their claims are set forth in considerable detail; and, whether, therefore, Her Majesty's Government will lay upon the Table the complete Correspondence?
§ MR. BOURKESir, the Protocol by which it was agreed to refer to the President of the French Republic the question of the disputed Boundary at Delagoa Bay was signed on the 25th of September, 1872, and it stipulated that the cases were to be presented within 12 1404 months from that time, and the counter cases within the next succeeding 12 months. The British case was presented on the 15th of September last, and the counter case will have to be presented by the 15th of next month. The Arbiter is then to give his award "as early as convenient." Her Majesty's Government are not aware that the Portuguese Government have recently published any Despatches on the subject; and until the award of the Arbiter has been given, Her Majesty's Government do not think it would be proper to lay on the Table any Papers on the subject.