§ MR. BOURKEI should like to ask my hon. Friend the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs a Question which he will probably be able to answer, although I have not given him Notice of it—namely, whether since the bombardment of Sfax any British claims on the French Government have arisen, or are likely to arise, out of that affair?
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKENo British claims have yet reached the Government at home. But I think that it is probable, from a telegram sent by Mr. Reade, the British Consul, that British claims will arise out of the bombardment of Sfax. He had an interview before the bombardment with some British subjects at Sfax possessing considerable property which was of a nature likely to be injured by a bombardment, and I have reason to believe that a portion of that property was destroyed. It is, therefore, very likely that British claims will arise out of the matter.