§ MR. SERJEANT SIMONasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether it is true that the Spanish Government has imposed a special war tax upon foreigners resident in Cuba for the purposes of the Civil War in that Island; if so, whether it is true that the Government of Spain has, at the instance of the Imperial Government of Germany, undertaken to exempt Germans in Cuba from that tax; whether Her Majesty's Government have taken any steps to procure a like exemption for British subjects; and, whether there are any treaties between Great Britain and Spain under which such an exemption might be demanded?
§ MR. BOURKEA special war tax, Sir, has been imposed upon all persons resident in Cuba, foreigners included. We understand that the German Consul at Havannah has received instructions from his Government to protest against 868 the payment of this tax, but it does not appear that the exemption has been allowed. We are in communication with the German Government on the subject with a view to joint action, if possible. As to the third part of the Question, whether there are any Treaties between Great Britain and Spain under which such exemption might be demanded, that is exactly the point at issue—or one of the points at issue—between the two Governments. The House may be assured that whatever rights we can claim by Treaty for British subjects will not be lost sight of.