§ SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTEasked the First Lord of the Treasury, When 277 he will be prepared to make a statement with respect to Madagascar; and, whether he can now give the House any particulars with respect to a proclamation said to have been issued by "the Superior Commandant of Tamatave," prohibiting access to Tamatave "to all Foreign sailors, soldiers, and officers? "
MR. GLADSTONEIn answer to this Question, Sir, I am not able to name any time when I can make a statement with respect to Madagascar. The Papers, which contain a great deal of matter and much Correspondence—some of it perhaps a little conflicting—have only very recently come into our hands. They were only in my hands on Saturday last, and we are not aware that the French Government have as yet received any detailed information. Lord Granville stated in "another place," I think on Friday last, that he was awaiting tidings of the French Government having received such information, and it had been agreed between M. Wadding-ton and himself that when that information arrived communications would immediately take place. The right hon. Gentleman, therefore, will see I am not in a condition further to refer to the matter or to name a day on which I can make a statement, or to say anything about the presentation of Papers on the subject. I do not think there would be any advantage in entering in details respecting any particular Correspondence; but, undoubtedly, it is a fact that a prohibitory proclamation was issued by the French authorities, of course purporting to be issued in virtue of the military occupation. Certain questions may arise upon the terms of that proclamation.
§ SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTEasked whether the House might expect any statement before its rising? He must remind the right hon. Gentleman that he himself made a statement in what might be called "another place," which had evoked a great deal of interest and curiosity.
MR. GLADSTONEYes, Sir; my statement was confirmatory of what we have previously stated with regard to our own impressions upon the communications that had passed with the French Government at the time when this intelligence arrived, and it was confirmatory of the intelligence we then had received that the matters that happened and the communications upon them at 278 the outset were of a nature to lead to the supposition that no apprehension need be entertained with regard to their ultimate issue. I would readily make a statement if it were a matter dependent upon our own action alone; but as it was a matter affecting a Foreign Government, I cannot give any pledge on the subject whatever to make a statement.
§ SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTEI will repeat the Question next Monday.
§ MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTasked whether it was true that Admiral Pierre had been recalled from Tamatave? He also asked the Prime Minister whether his attention had been called to statements in the French newspapers to the effect that the French people were highly gratified with the amende honorable made by the right hon. Gentleman, and whether he was aware that his speech on Wednesday last, at the Mansion House, was taken as an apology to France?
MR. GLADSTONENo, Sir; no such statement as that mentioned by the hon. Gentleman as appearing in the French newspapers has reached me. I do not understand how uttering a warning as to the interpretation to be put upon documents necessarily couched in the succinct language of telegrams could be taken as an apology or retractation on my part. We have no information whatever as to Admiral Pierre being recalled.