§ MR. O'KELLY (for Mr. HEALY)asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether he has seen the statement that on a Sunday in last month the ship "Trio," commanded and owned by Captain J. W. Kelly, of Wexford, was boarded at Corunna by the British Consul and his son, who came alongside in a Spanish man of war's board full of armed men, and demanded, as the "Trio" had her spars decorated with flags of all nations (including Ireland), that the "Fenian flag" should be removed, and "all the rest;" whether, since the flags in question have been flown by the "Trio" on gala days in many quarters of the world, and that the alleged "Fenian flag" was floated in Wexford Port without complaint about two months ago, and is simply a green flag with a harp and cross upon it, the Government approve the Consul's action; if so, upon what authority it was based; whether, notwithstanding Captain Kelly's explanations and protests, he was obliged to remove all the bunting; and, upon what portion of the estimates the salary of the Consul at Corunna becomes a charge, and whether the amount has yet been voted?
§ LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICESir, the newspaper report referred to by the hon. Member is not accurate. A full Report on the subject has been received from Her Majesty's Consul at Corunna, which, together with any other Correspondence, will be laid before Parliament. It appears that the captain of the Trio had failed to comply with the regulations of the port in not hoisting at the main-masthead the British Flag. The salary of the Consul is borne on 780 the Consular Estimates, which have not yet been voted.