§ MR. O'KELLYasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, If he could state whether Colonel Maceo capitulated to the Spanish Forces at Guantanamo in June 1880; whether the capitulation took, place in the presence of the British and French Vice Consuls for Guantanamo, in accordance with a previous agreement between the Spanish and Cuban Commanders; whether the British and French Vice Consuls took part in the act of capitulation as the guarantors of the carrying out in good faith of the terms on which the surrender of the Cuban Force was arranged; whether, under the terms of surrender, General Maceo and a number of his companions were permitted to embark on board the merchant steamer "Thomas Brooks;" whether, at the time of the embarkation of General Maceo and his companions, the steamer "Thomas Brooks" was flying the British flag astern; whether the "Thomas Brooks," having proceeded to sea, was followed 525 and overhauled by a Spanish gunboat, and General Maceo and his companions made prisoners, and conducted to Porto Rico, in violation of the terms of their surrender; and, whether the steamer "Thomas Brooks" is the property of an English subject; and, if not, whether the Government will inquire into the circumstances attending the use of the British flag on the occasion of the embarkation of General Maceo and his companions?
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKE, in reply, said, that, with regard to the first part of the Question, there was no information at the Foreign Office as to the date of this particular capitulation; but in July, 1880, the Acting Consul General at Guantanamo reported that he thought the insurrection had virtually terminated. They knew nothing of a capitulation having taken place in presence of the British and French Vice Consuls. With regard to the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh paragraphs of the Question, the Government know nothing at all. They had never heard of the ship called the Thomas Brooks, or of any facts relating to that question.
§ MR. O'KELLYasked whether the Government would undertake to inquire into the truth of the statements in question.
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKEsaid, that the Government had no evidence before them; but if the hon. Member would supply him with any evidence on the matter the Government would see whether it was necessary to make inquiries.
§ MR. O'KELLYsaid, he would take an opportunity of placing certain information on the subject in the hon. Baronet's hands.
§ SIR H. DRUMMOND WOLFFasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any application had been made by Her Majesty's Government to the Government of Spain for the release of General Maceo and the other Cuban refugees?
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKEsaid, that, under the circumstances stated on Friday by his hon. Friend the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, no such application had yet been made to the Spanish Government; but the Report from the Commission of Inquiry had been referred to the Law Officers of the Crown.