DR. CAMERONasked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether Foreign vessels calling at Singapore are under any legal obligation to comply with any formalities analogous to "clearance," or to give notice to or obtain the permission of any official of the port before departing; if so, whether he would state what the prescribed formalities are, and what penalty or liability attaches to their neglect; and, whether the Spanish steamer "Leon XIII." which carried off three English engineers, ordered by the Supreme Court of the Colony to be sur- 1239 rendered under writ of habeas corpus, had complied with all formalities prescribed?
§ MR. EVELYN ASHLEYSir, Singapore is a free port, and we have no reason to doubt that any necessary formalities were complied with by the Spanish steamer Leon XIII. The action of the Court gave the authorities no ground for detaining the vessel, as the process issued was not against the ship, but against the captain, who was left behind when she sailed.
DR. CAMERONasked the Secretary to the Admiralty, Whether the visit of Her Majesty's gunboat "Swift" to Manila was not directly connected with the manner in which the "Leon XIII." left Singapore, forcibly carrying off three English Engineers, who were under the jurisdiction of the Colonial Courts?
§ MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANYes, Sir; it is the case that the gunboat Swift proceeded to Manilla in consequence of a telegram from the Governor at Singapore to the effect that the Leon XIII. had left for Manilla with three British engineers on board, who were alleged to be illegally confined. The British Consul at Manilla, however, was able at once to arrange the difficulty with the Spanish authorities, and the Swift left. I may add that there was nothing unusual in the presence of a vessel of the China Squadron at Manilla, as frequent visits are paid to that port.