Dr. CAMERONasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether, it being admitted that the Spanish Consul at Singapore advised the captain of the "Leon XIII." to disobey the writ of habeas corpus ordering him to produce the three English engineers imprisoned on board that vessel, and was a party to their forcible abduction, it is intended to recall his exequatur?
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKESir, Her Majesty's Government, although they have, through their Minister at Madrid, represented the gravity of the Spanish Consul's proceedings in this matter, have given him credit for having acted from zeal for the protection of his countrymen against a proceeding which he supposed to be an interference with their rights; and, under the circumstances, Her Majesty's Government have not felt disposed to resort to the extreme measure of withdrawing the Consul's exequatur.
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKEThe Papers could not be laid before the House at present, because the matter has not been completed. If the hon. Member will ask the Question again shortly, I will give a definite answer.