§ MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether the report in Wednesday's "Standard" is correct that an English merchant and his three servants have been arrested by the French at Tamatave, and are now imprisoned on board a French Man-of-War; how many British subjects are now imprisoned at Madagascar; and, what steps are being taken by Her Majesty's Government for their immediate release?
§ LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICESir, no information has reached Her Majesty's Government respecting the arrest mentioned in the Standard; but inquiry is being made. So far as Her Majesty's Government are aware, Mr. Shaw is the only British subject now detained by the French naval authorities. The late Consul Pakenham's Secretary, who was arrested, has been released. The arrest of Mr. Shaw is the subject of Correspondence with the French Government; but I cannot, at present, make any further statement.
§ MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTIs the offence stated for which Mr. Shaw is confined?
§ LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICEA Question was asked on that subject the other day, and the answer was in the negative.
§ MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTasked the Secretary to the Admiralty, Whether he will lay the Despatches received from Madagascar, on Tuesday the 7th August, without delay upon the Table of the House; and, whether he will inform the House what British ships of war are now at Madagascar and the Mauritius?
§ MR CAMPBELL-BANNERMANSir, the despatches in question refer to matters which are rather for the consideration of Her Majesty's Government than of the Admiralty; and I believe the hon. Member has already been informed, on the part of the Government, 744 that these despatches cannot be made public. With regard to the second Question, I can only say, as on previous occasions, that it is not for the public interest that the information asked for should be given.
§ MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTwanted to know how long this humiliating silence was to be maintained? [Cries of "Order!"] He would like to ask why it was not for the public service that the names of the ships at Madagascar should be given? ["Order!"]
§ MR. SPEAKERThe hon. Member is now asking for an opinion, which is not regular.
§ MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTasked whether he should be in Order if he asked whether the hon. Gentleman could give his reasons why the information could not be given?
§ MR. SPEAKERThe hon. Gentleman the Secretary to the Admiralty has already stated on his responsibility that the information could not be given.
§ SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTEasked whether the hon. Gentleman meant that the Despatches could not be produced at all, or could not be produced at the present time?
§ MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANsaid, that, what he meant to state was that at present no assurance could be given as to the time or extent of their production.