HC Deb 30 March 1883 vol 277 cc1107-8
MR. O'KELLY

asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether it is true that two of the Cuban officers surrendered by the Gibraltar police to the Spanish Government are still confined in Chafarinas; and, whether, since this penal settlement is noted for its insalubrity, he will undertake to make representations to the Spanish Government with a view to the removal of Messrs. Castillo and Rodriquez to Spain pending the final decision of their case?

SIR R. ASSHETON CROSS

asked the noble Lord, in reference to the same subject, Whether any steps have been taken by the Government to secure the release of all the Cuban refugees; and, if he can state the exact position in which the matter now actually stands; and, whether Papers can be immediately laid before Parliament?

LORD EDMOND FITZ MAURICE

Sir, Her Majesty's Government are informed that it is the intention of the Spanish Government to include the two officers referred to in the Question of the hon. Member for Roscommon (Mr. O'Kelly) in a category of other Cuban prisoners about to be released. Maceo himself will not, for the present, be released, but will be treated as a prisoner of war of the rank of officer, his wife and children being allowed to live with him, and his friends having free access to him. Her Majesty's Minister at Madrid has been instructed to express to the Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs the gratification of Her Majesty's Government at the spirit of conciliation which has thus been shown, in response to the appeals to the generosity of the Spanish Government which Sir Robert Morier was at the outset of this affair instructed to make. Further Papers will he laid before Parliament as soon as possible.

SIR R. ASSHETON CROSS

I do not quite understand, Sir, in the first place, whether these officers are to be released altogether out of Spain, or merely out of prison. In any case, whatever the answer to that question may be, so far as Maceo is concerned, I think that, after the most unsatisfactory answer of Her Majesty's Government, it will be absolutely necessary for me to proceed with the Motion which I have on the Paper; and, in accordance with the pledge which the Prime Minister gave just before the Easter Recess, I shall ask him for a day for the discussion of that Motion, if I fail to obtain one at the ballot.