HC Deb 20 February 1877 vol 232 c732
MR. ERRINGTON

asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether it is true that the French Government has agreed to the appointment of a Joint Commission to consider the treatment of Indian Coolies in the Island of La Réunion; if so, whether he will state the scope of the proposed inquiry, and the names of the Commissioners to be appointed by Her Majesty's Government; and whether he will recommend the appointment of a similar Commission for Martinique, Guadaloupe, and Cayenne?

MR. BOURKE

Sir, the French Government have agreed to the appointment of a Joint Commission to inquire into the condition of Indian Coolies in La Réunion. Her Majesty's Government are not yet in a position to state what will be the scope of the proposed inquiry, inasmuch as we are in communication with the French Government on the subject, and no definite understanding has yet been come to. The Commissioners on the part of Her Majesty's Government have not yet been named. There is no present intention of appointing a Commission to inquire into the condition of Indian Coolies in Martinique, Guadaloupe, and Cayenne.