§ MR. BANISTER FLETCHER (Wilts, Chippenham)asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether, with reference to the acts of oppression to which Mr. Godden, a British merchant, has been subjected by the Dutch authorities in Curaçao, would he state whether the representation which has been addressed to the Netherlands Government on the subject was an official representation by Her Majesty's Government; whether Her Majesty's Government are aware that three of the grievances complained of are not affected by any question of law; and, if so, whether they will make a further representation to the Netherlands Govern- 250 ment respecting them, with the view of obtaining immediate protection for British trade with the Island, and without waiting for the decisions of courts of law upon matters connected with other grievances; and, whether he has any objection to lay upon the Table Copies of the communications received in answer to the inquiries which have been made by Her Majesty's Government on the subjects referred to?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. BRYCE) (Aberdeen, S.)The only matter respecting which Mr. Godden has solicited the intervention of Her Majesty's Government is the alleged excessive assessment of ground tax on his property in Curaçao. Her Majesty's Minister at the Hague was instructed to represent this case unofficially to the Netherlands Government, and to ask if there were any remedy for Mr. Godden against the injustice of which he complains. The substance of the reply of the Netherlands Government was communicated to Mr. Godden on March 2 last. There would not be any public object to be gained in return for the expense involved in printing and distributing to Members of both Houses the Correspondence which has passed on the subject. Her Majesty's Government have no cognizance of the other grievances referred to in the hon. Member's Question; but they will be very willing to do what they properly can on Mr. Godden's behalf on learning from him the nature thereof.