§ MR. J. N. RICHARDSONasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether he can give the House any information as to the number of British subjects resident in Madagascar compared with those of France, and, also, as to the total value of British trade (including that done between the above named island and the Mauritius), compared with the total value of French trade with Madagascar?
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKEI am unable to give the relative proportion of British and French subjects resident in Madagascar; but at the close of 1879 Her Majesty's Consul stated that the foreign community amounted to 250 persons. No statistics exist as to the exact value of British and French trade respectively, as, independently of the direct trade with England and the local trade with Mauritius, there is one of importance carried on with Natal and the Cape Colony, and also between the West Coast of the Island and India and England, viâ Zanzibar.
DR. CAMERONasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether he has received any official information concerning the mission of the Malagasy Ambassadors to Europe; and, whether he has any reason to believe that they desire to visit London in order to solicit the good offices of Her Majesty's Government, with a view to the settlement of the differences between them and the Government of France?
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKEWhen the Ambassadors left Madagascar Her Majesty's Government were informed that it was their intention to visit London and Berlin; but as yet we have received no notice of their leaving Paris with that object.