HC Deb 27 June 1884 vol 289 cc1547-8
MR. GOURLEY

asked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether, upon representations being made to him by the Foreign Office, he will make an allowance to the impoverished families of the crew of the Nisero?

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. CHILDERS)

I am afraid that I must, with every respect for him, absolutely decline to answer my hon. Friend's Question. Whatever representations the Foreign Office may make to the Treasury on this or any other question will receive our careful consideration.

MR. GOURLEY

asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether the Foreign Office, having stated that the crew of the Nisero are the victims of political complications, he is prepared to recommend the Chancellor of the Exchequer to make an allowance to their families?

MR. STOREY

asked, Whether our officials on the spot had objected to a Dutch expedition, conducted like the last, and to the Dutch proposal to employ Natives unfriendly to the Rajah to kidnap the crew, as methods calculated to result in disastrous failure, and have pointed out that the only way to rescue the captives is for the Dutch to carry out the terms of existing Treaties by granting free trade to the Natives; and, whether objections of this nature have been pressed upon the Dutch Government by our Government?

LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICE

The Foreign Office will be prepared to take into consideration any particular application which may be made in connection with this subject; but it is impossible to give any general pledge, or to fetter the discretion of the Treasury. With respect to the Question of the hon. Member for Sunderland (Mr. Storey), the opinion of the British officials on the points referred to by the hon. Member are to the effect mentioned by him, and will be found in their Reports, which are comprised in the Papers laid bfore Parliament. These Reports have been communicated to the Netherlands Government; and Her Majesty's Government have strongly urged that, in their opinion, the re-establishment of the freedom of trade would be the most likely means of securing the liberation of the captives.

MR. GOURLEY

asked whether application should be made by the families or the owners?

LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICE

replied, that each particular application would have to be considered separately.