§ BARON HENRY DE WORMSasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether it is the fact, as stated in the "Observer" of April 15th, that an arrangement has been arrived at 609 between Her Majesty's Government and that of Portugal with regard to the Congo question; and, if so, whether he will state what is the nature of the arrangement referred to; whether Her Majesty's Government have received any confirmation of the statement in the telegrams of April 16th, to the effect that the Portuguese authorities at Ambriz—
Are levying fresh duties and taxes, which have made it impossible to do business;that—The Chiefs and Natives had intimated their firm determination to resist to the utmost any attempt to take illegal possession of their Country;and that a Portuguese war vessel, and Portuguese gunboats, are stationed on the Congo; and, whether he will state what steps, if any, have been taken by Her Majesty's Government to protect British commerce in the Congo district?
§ LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICEThe statement in The Observer is incorrect. Her Majesty's Government have not received any confirmation of the statement referred to, as to the levying of fresh duties and taxes at Ambriz, or the alleged determination of the Natives to resist any attempt to take their country. I may remind the hon. Member that Ambriz is an acknowledged Portuguese possession. As far as Her Majesty's Government are aware, there are only two Portuguese gunboats stationed in the Congo. The Portuguese Government have engaged not to send any ships of war to the Congo pending the conclusion of the negotiations, and this engagement still holds good. As regards the protection of British interests in the Congo, it was the intention of the Admiral commanding on the West African Station to visit Loanda last month, and he has been instructed to send a ship of war to the Congo from time to time.