§ MR. O'KELLYasked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether his attention has been called to the following telegram published in the "Standard" of the 6th instant:—
The Cuban refugees arrived here on the 20th of August by the English steamer 'Hercules,' from Tangier. On their landing the police demanded their passports, and they were without any. Then, instead of refusing them admission to the garrison in consequence of their having no passports, the refugees were placed in two cars, with two policemen and an 942 inspector of police, and taken to the English frontier, where they were compelled to dismount, and were left. The Spanish officials, who were in waiting, arrested them immediately. A witness of the arrest showed me the actual spot, which is within twenty yards of the British sentry, consequently this proceeding of the Spaniards is an infringement of the neutral zone of one hundred yards. I have spoken to the Spanish official who arrested the refugees, and he states that they were not handed over by the British police, but simply turned out and prevented from returning to the British territory. He adds, however, that the whole affair was, without doubt, previously arranged between the British and Spanish authorities, information having been received at Linea, the Spanish frontier town, that the refugees would be expelled from English territory at a certain hour, in consequence of which he and three others were waiting close to the English sentries, and thus effected their arrest;and, whether he can inform the House if the statements contained in it are correct?
§ SIR R. ASSHETON CROSSasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether the statement in the "Standard" newspaper of the 6th instant is true, that certain Cuban refugees were taken to the British frontier near Gibraltar, and prevented from returning into British territory; and, if so, whether this proceeding was the subject of any previous arrangement, negotiation, or discussion between the Spanish and British authorities?
§ MR. EVELYN ASHLEYAs to the first part of the hon. Member's Question, if he will do me the favour of referring to the answer I gave on this subject a week ago he will see that, substantially, the statements made in this communication to The Standard are correct. But as, in a matter of this importance, one must be very accurate, I would say we have no information as to the actual place of the arrest within the neutral territory. But, of course, the important part of the Question of the hon. Gentleman, and that which is the principal part of the Question of the right hon. Gentleman (Sir R. Assheton Cross), is, whether the Government could inform the House if the statements contained in the telegram—namely, that previous communications took place between the Spanish and English authorities—are true or not. We have no further information respecting that than we had when I previously answered a Question on the subject in the House. I should be very anxious to answer in a matter of such serious im- 943 portance as fully as possible; but I believe the House would think it wrong if I were to give expression to mere opinion on the facts we already know when we have asked for, and expect very shortly to receive, a full statement of facts from the Governor. Hon. Members, no doubt, have seen a telegram in the newspapers to-day that an inquiry had already begun at the Governor's residence; and I need only appeal to the character and position of Lord Napier to show that that inquiry will be an exhaustive one. I might say that, in order to make the inquiry accurate and full, the Colonial Office telegraphed the paragraph that appeared in The Standard drawing Lord Napier's attention to this charge, and asking him to answer by telegraph whether there was any foundation for it or not. I need only add that as soon as we receive any information on the subject I will communicate with the right hon. Gentleman opposite, so that he can repeat his Question. Before sitting down, I may just say that the Secretary of State will not shrink from visiting with due severity any person who it may be thoroughly proved or shown has, either by gross negligence or something worse, contributed to bring about this very deplorable error.
§ SIR R. ASSHETON CROSSHas the Government given up all hope of getting the men given back by the Spanish Government?
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKEI am afraid that it would not conduce to the end we have in view if I were to make any statement on the subject.
§ LORD RANDOLPH CHURCHILLHas any representation been made by the English Government to the Spanish Government with respect to these men?
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKEYes, Sir; I have already stated to the House that communications have passed between the Foreign Office and the Government of Spain on the subject; but, looking to the extreme gravity of the Question, the House will see that it would not conduce to the end we have in view if I were to make a statement.
§ LORD RANDOLPH CHURCHILLOn what day were despatches sent from the Foreign Office instructing our Ambassador to make representations to the Spanish Government?
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKEI will be prepared to answer that Question on 944 Thursday. The first communication made, as announced by me on the day it was made, was the telegraphing to Madrid the terms of the reply, given on behalf of the Colonial Office in this House, to the first Question asked on the subject.