HC Deb 30 March 1883 vol 277 cc1105-6
MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETT

asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether, in view of the following statements contained in a Despatch of Lord Granville to the British Ambassador at Paris, dated October 7th, 1882:— Her Majesty's Government would be glad to ascertain what were the Treaties to which M. Duclerc alluded in his note of the 14th August as ceding to France the Protectorate of certain territories on the North West of Madagascar. Her Majesty's Government is anxious to receive at as early a date as possible a definite statement on this point from the French Government. Her Majesty's Government recognize the Queen of Madagascar as absolute Monarch of the whole Island, excepting Magotte and Nossé Be on the West Coast (really small islands North West of Madagascar), and as at present advised they are unaware of any Treaty stipulations in virtue of which the French Government could properly claim territorial jurisdiction over any part of the mainland of Madagascar, it is a fact that Her Majesty's Government have been long aware of the nature of the French claims upon the Government of Madagascar; and, whether the alleged Treaties referred to above, have yet been communicated to Her Majesty's Government? He would also ask, whether any information has reached the Government with regard to any acts of hostility against the Government of Madagascar?

LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICE

Sir, If the hon. Member will refer to the Papers from which he has quoted, he will see that, as I stated the other day, Her Majesty's Government had long been acquainted with the stipulations of the Treaty of 1868 between France and Madagascar. They were not, however, acquainted with the other claims to which the hon. Member refers; and the reply of the French Government to the inquiries addressed to them by Her Majesty's Government, which the hon. Member quotes, will be found at page 22 of the Papers presented to Parliament. As to the other Question of the hon. Member, I think he will see it is one of which Notice ought to be given.