§ MR. JACOB BRIGHTasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether he can make any statement calculated to remove the feeling of uncertainty which tends to paralise our trade with South West Africa in consequence of the authority sought to be exercised by the Portuguese on the Congo?
§ LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICESir, in consequence of the disquieting reports which recently appeared, Her Majesty's Minister at Lisbon was in- 912 structed to address inquiries to the Portuguese Government on the subject of the health officer and the post office stated to have been established at Banana. The Portuguese Government have replied that the Angola Board of Health has appointed a delegate at Banana, not as an act of sovereignty, but to viser bills of health for Portuguese packets only, it being necessary for their pratiquè at Lisbon. A Post Office station has for some time been in existence at Banana, also, it is understood, for the use of the Portuguese only. Positive orders have been issued to the Governor of Angola not to occupy an inch of the territory in dispute during the progress of the negotiations with Her Majesty's Government, but to maintain strictly the status quo.
§ MR. BOURKEasked the noble Lord what right there was for any Power, which had not the right of sovereignty, to establish a post office?
§ LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICEIt is a mere private arrangement with the traders, and, as I understand, affects nobody but the Portuguese themselves. That, I understand, is quite within their right.
§ MR. JACOB BRIGHTasked whether it was understood that British merchants were not obliged to deposit letters in the post office?
§ LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICE,in reply, said, that was implied in the terms of the answer.