§ MR. BURTasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, If his attention has been called to the case of Mr. Welford, Primitive Methodist Missionary at Fernando Po; whether it is true that Mr. Welford was kept a prisoner by the Spanish authorities for thirty days; whether Mr. Welford has since been liberated on parole, but is still denied redress in the form of a trial; whether representations have been made to the Spanish Government on the subject; and, if so, what reply has been received; and, whether the Government will press for the speedy settlement of the case?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. BRYCE)The attention of the late Government was called to this matter in October last. Mr. Welford was arrested on the 7th of September, and imprisoned for 20 days. Through the intervention, however, of the Commander of Her Majesty's Ship Flirt he was released on bail; but he has not as yet been brought to trial. Repeated representations in favour of Mr. Welford have been addressed to the Spanish Government by Her Majesty's Legation at Madrid, and Lord Rosebery has given instructions that their earnest attention shall again be called to this question, with a view to its prompt settlement.