HC Deb 13 March 1884 vol 285 cc1340-1
MR. GORST

asked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, What steps Her Majesty's Government have taken in consequence of the Report of the Commission on the Western Pacific, stating that as regards the greater part of the vast area to which the Western Pacific Order in Council refers the provisions of that Order have been almost wholly inoperative, and in some respects have perhaps produced results mischievous rather than beneficial, and that any considerable delay in placing upon a more satisfactory footing the control over the British subjects in the Western Pacific will be perilous, and in all probability attended with calamitous results; and, whether any Bill dealing with the office and jurisdiction of the High Commissioner of the Western Pacific will be brought before the House during the present Session?

MR. EVELYN ASHLEY

Sir, my hon. and learned Friend having unfortunately been on the high sea has not heard the answer which I made to a similar Question about a month ago. I then stated that Her Majesty's Government had not taken any steps, one of the principal reasons for not doing so being that the question had been very much affected by the action of the Inter-Colonial Congress at Sydney; and until we see what results from that we cannot come to any determination. As to the last part of the Question, therefore, it is not possible to say whether any legislation will be proposed this Session.

MR. GORST

asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether any Powers besides the Government of Germany have addressed remonstrances to Her Majesty's Government in consequence of acts of cruelty committed in the Western Pacific by the officers and crews of vessels sailing under the British flag; whether similar remonstrances have been addressed by Her Majesty's Government to Foreign Powers; whether any negotiations have been entered into between Her Majesty's Government and any Foreign Powers, having for their object the suppression of disorders and atrocities in the Western Pacific; and, whether any Papers or Correspondence on this subject will be laid upon the Table of the House?

LORD EDMOND FITZMAUEICE

Sir, there have been no remonstrances received from or addressed to any Foreign Power with regard to such occurrences other than the communications received from the German Government on the subject. No negotiations with any Foreign Powers or other correspondence have taken place; but the Western Pacific Committee, whoso Report has lately been laid before Parliament, was appointed with a view to the consideration of the course to be taken for the repression of outrages and acts of violence, and it will be a principal question whether any Foreign Power should be invited to co-operate in this matter.

MR. GORST

I beg to give Notice that, in consequence of the answers I have received, I shall take the earliest opportunity of calling the attention of the House to the Report of the Commission, and move a Resolution.

MR. O'DONNELL

Does the noble Lord know whether the French Government have carried out their threat to send a ship of war to prevent the Slave Trade being carried on under the British flag?

LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICE

Will the hon. Member give Notice of that Question?

MR. O'DONNELL

The statement is in the Blue Book.