§ MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether it is a fact that the Queen of Madagascar has applied to the Governments of Germany and Great Britain for their mediation to protect Madagascar from the aggression of the French Republic; and, whether Her Majesty's Government have addressed any remonstrance to the French Government, and will send a Naval Squadron to Madagascar to defend British interests and commerce?
§ LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICESir, the application was for the good offices of Her Majesty's Government with that of France in the negotiations which, as the House is aware, have been suspended. We have no information that any request for mediation, as against aggression, has been made to the Government of Germany. The communications between the British and French Governments will be found in the Papers already distributed. Her Majesty's ship Dryad, as I have already informed the House, is at Madagascar; but there is no present intention of sending other ships to join her.
§ MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTsaid, he should also like to know whether the Government had received from the French Government any information as to the Treaty under which she claimed her rights?
LORD EDMOND FTTZMAURICEThe Foreign Office have, no doubt, long been aware of whatever Treaty rights can be said to exist as between France and Madagascar.