HC Deb 16 April 1883 vol 278 cc306-7
MR. CROPPER

asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, If Her Majesty's Government have held communications with the Envoys from Madagascar since their return from the United States; and, if they have given any information as to their late negotiations with the French Government, and as to the attitude of that Government towards Madagascar?

SIR HARRY VERNEY

asked, Whether the noble Lord would lay upon the Table the replies to the "Documents Diplomatiques Affairs de Madagascar 1881, 1883," in the French Yellow Book, which have been sent to the Foreign Office by the Government of Madagascar?

LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICE

Sir, in reply to these Questions, I may state that the Madagascar Envoys, on the 7th of February, handed in to Lord Granville, for his personal information, an annotated copy of the French Yellow Book, together with a few brief notes on those parts of it which related to the recent discussions in Paris. These documents contain a personal defence of the conduct of the Envoys during the negotiations, rather than an answer to the French claims, as to which the Correspondence already laid shows the views of the Hova Government. As these Papers turn entirely upon the negotiations between the French and the Hova Governments, they cannot with propriety be presented to Parliament by Her Majesty's Government.