§ SIR HENRY HOLLAND (Hampstead)May I ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether any further communications have passed between this country and the French Government, respecting the hoisting of the French flag at the New Hebrides?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. BRYCE) (Aberdeen, S.)A telegram has been received to-day from Lord Lyons, stating that he saw M. De Freycinet this morning, who informed him that no intelligence had been received by the Government of the 1854 Republic of the hoisting of the French flag in the New Hebrides; but that the French Government had, nevertheless, yesterday telegraphed to the Governor of New Caledonia instructions that if the hoisting of the flag had taken place it should at once be discontinued. No intelligence confirming the other reports in the newspapers had been received by the French Government. M. De Freycinet promised to send details regarding the murders in the New Hebrides which had occasioned the expedition.