§ SIR EARDLEY WILMOTasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign 1549 Affairs, Whether the violence and arbitrary conduct of the Italian police towards "British subjects in Italy has been checked or punished by the authorities there, since the warning circular issued by Lord Derby to intending travellers in Italy; and, if not, whether Her Majesty's Government will inform the public how the question now stands, by the publication of Correspondence on the subject between the two Governments, and especially by that relating to the wrongful imprisonment of William Mercer at Castellamare in 1873?
§ MR. BOURKESir, since the occurrences happened, which called forth the recommendation of Lord Derby that all travellers in Italy should provide themselves with passports, no outrages of a serious kind have, to the knowledge of the Foreign Office, been committed by the Italian police, and no complaints of a serious nature have been furnished to Her Majesty's Government. Some minor complaints have been received, and the Italian Government have, upon representations being made to them, done all that could be expected of them in the matters in question. As to the Correspondence regarding Mercer's case, the House is aware that the Correspondence extended over a great number of years—from 1872 to 1876. I have myself answered many Questions on the subject, and I do not think that any public advantage would arise from the publication of that Correspondence. Therefore, it is not the intention of the Government to lay any Papers before the House with regard to Mercer's case.