§ MR. A. M'ARTHURasked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether he will inform the House if the Anglo-German Commission which lately sat in London for the purpose of considering certain questions connected with the administration of affairs in the Western Pacific has terminated its labours; whether he can state what recommendations the Commissioners have made, especially with regard to trade and navigation, to the labour traffic, and to the question of supplying arms, ammunition, and spirituous liquors to the natives; and, what prospect there is of the Governments of Great Britain and Germany arriving at a common understanding on these subjects?
§ MR. EVELYN ASHLEYThe Anglo-German Commissioners, who have been lately considering this subject, have reported their recommendations to their respective Governments. They have recommended, besides a delimitation of the special spheres of influence of the two Governments, that they shall mutually grant perfect freedom and equality of trade, navigation, and domicile. With regard to the labour traffic, they recommend that Germany should pass laws for the regulation of recruitment similar to those already passed by the British Legislature, both Imperial and Colonial, and which they pronounce sufficient to provide all necessary securities, if they are only properly enforced—in short, they consider that the labour trade should be regulated by an uniform rather than by a common control by the two Governments. As to the sale of arms and intoxicating liquors, they agree that in all places under the control of their respective Governments the gift or sale to Natives of these things should be strictly prohibited. They further recommend, with reference to islands not yet under the control of any European Power, that German and British subjects should be prohibited from carrying thither arms or alcoholic liquors, and they suggest that the other Naval Powers should be invited to adopt a similar course of action with respect to their subjects. With regard to the last Question, I think I may say that, as far as the Governments of Great Britain 703 and Germany are concerned, there is every prospect of a common understanding being arrived at on the matters discussed between them.
§ MR. EVELYN ASHLEYsaid, Papers were being prepared; but he could not say when they would be laid on the Table.
MR. GORSTsaid, if they were not produced before it was proposed to take the Vote on this subject, he should oppose it.
§ MR. EVELYN ASHLEYsaid, he should press on the Papers as well as he could.