MR. GORSTasked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether Her Majesty's Government have reason to believe that the Northern Coast of New Guinea has been, or is about to be, taken over by a private German Association for colonization and administration similar to the British North Borneo Company; whether such an arrangement would give Germany any greater sovereign rights in New Guinea than Great Britain has in Borneo; and, whether the right of such private Association to exercise jurisdiction over British subjects will be recognized by Her Majesty's Government?
§ MR. EVELYN ASHLEYIn reply to the first Question of the hon. and learned Gentleman, Her Majesty's Government have no information as to the proposed administration of the Northern Coast of New Guinea by a private German Association similar to the North Borneo Company. In reply to the second Question, no sovereign rights are claimed by Great Britain in Borneo. The third is a hypothetical Question, and cannot be answered without a knowledge of the conditions under which such an Association would claim to exercise jurisdiction.
MR. GORSTI would ask whether Her Majesty's Government will make some inquiry as to the practical administration under which North New Guinea is placed by the German Government?
§ MR. EVELYN ASHLEYOf course, we always make inquiries in such cases.