The EARL OF BECTIVEasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, If he is aware that the portion of land adjoining the garden surrounding the English church at Tunis, which has been used as a lawn tennis ground pending the collection of funds for the erection of a parsonage house thereon, includes not only the land allotted to the British residents with the Bey's sanction, but also a portion of the land conveyed in perpetuity to the British Colony by a legal agreement entered into between the Bey and the Bishop of Gibraltar; if he is aware that, in reply to a protest made to M. Roustan by Her Majesty's agent, the former stated that he could only defer occupation of the land aforesaid for a fortnight, as M. Shemmama intended to commence building at once; and, if Her Majesty's Government will instruct Her Majesty's agent at Tunis to take immediate steps to prevent the interests of the legal owners being in any way prejudiced by M. Shemmama's action, and to protest against M. Roustan's 527 intended confiscation of the land aforesaid?
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKESir, I have nothing to add to the answer which I gave to the noble Lord's Question last week. If any land has been transferred to a French protected subject to which the British residents have a claim, they should represent the matter to the British Agent and Consul General, and take proceedings to maintain their claim in the Courts usual in such cases.
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKENo, Sir; we have the fullest confidence in his taking the necessary steps in the cases brought before him. He has the fullest instructions to take action in cases of this kind.