§ MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether Her Majesty's Government have received confirmation of the telegrams published in Monday's paper, to the effect that, a British packet on reaching Tamatave was boarded by the French Admiral and forbidden to land any passengers, or to disembark any merchandise except on payment of the French tariff; whether Her Majesty's Acting Consul at Tamatave, Captain Johnstone, Commander of the "Dryad," has been forbidden all communication with the shore; whether the incoming mails were taken by the French Admiral and the outgoing mails made up by him; whether he also demanded the Consular Despatches; whether, in view of these arbitrary proceedings, Her Majesty's Government will despach a sufficient naval force to Madagascar to defend the British flag and to protect British commerce; and, whether he will communicate to the House the text of a 1680 Despatch lately received by Her Majesty's Government bringing intelligence up to date of July 3rd?
§ LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICEHer Majesty's Government have received, as yet, no official information of the news brought by the Taymouth Castle to Durban, for the early communication of which they are indebted to the courtesy of Sir Donald Currie. The House is aware, from the statement made by the Prime Minister on the 11th, that the French Admiral stopped communication between the Dryad and the shore. The statement respecting the mails and the despatches were contained in the telegram received by Sir Donald Currie, of which no official confirmation has arrived. The Question as to the Naval Force was answered by me on Friday last; but Questions as to the movements of Her Majesty's ships should be addressed to the Secretary to the Admiralty. No despatch has been received bringing intelligence up to the 3rd of July. The latest official information received is that communicated by the Prime Minister. The latest despatch is dated June 14th. Up to that date the attitude of the French Admiral and Consul towards the British Consul had been courteous and conciliatory.
§ MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTWill the noble Lord say whether the despatch which Her Majesty's Government did receive came from Captain Johnstone through Colonel Miles, of Zanzibar; and also whether he, or the Secretary to the Admiralty, can inform the House if two additional ships of war had been sent to Tamatave?
§ LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICEI have already stated to the House that it was not a despatch, but a telegram, the substance of which was communicated to the House by the Prime Minister.
§ MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTWho was it from?
§ LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICEColonel Miles.
§ MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTColonel Miles is at Zanzibar. Did it come originally from Captain Johnstone?
§ LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICEsaid, that if the hon. Member desired any further information it would be much better that he put the Questions on the Paper. With regard to what he 1681 said just now about Questions relating to the movements of ships being better addressed to the Secretary to the Admiralty, he wished to explain that there was no desire whatever to withhold information from the hon. Member; but that he was influenced by motives which he was sure the hon. Member would understand, because the Admiralty were, of course, better informed on those points.