§ MR. ADDISON (Ashton-under-Lyne)asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether the attention of the Government has been called to the arrest of Mr. Stanley Weyman and his brother, at Aramitz, on December 14th, 1885, while in possession of Foreign Office Passports; and, whether the French Government have offered any and what explanation of the conduct of the gendarmes on that occasion?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. BRYCE) (Aberdeen, S.)The arrest of these gentlemen was brought to the knowledge of the Embassy at Paris by Her Majesty's Consul at Bordeaux on the 20th of December last, and on the 23rd of that month a strong representation on the subject was addressed to the French Government by Her Majesty's Minister at Paris. On the 1st of January the two commanding officers of the gendarmes of the Pau district called on the British Vice Consul at Pau, and expressed their regret that a misunderstanding should have led to the arrest of Messrs. Weyman. A reply was received by Sir John Walsham from the French Government on the 20th of February. It mentioned the apology made by the officers of the gendarmerie, and stated that the brigadier who had effected the arrest had been punished by eight days' confinement. No formal apology has been tendered on the part of the French Government, who have expressed their opinion that under the circumstances the conduct of the gendarme was excusable. Her Majesty's Government do not share this opinion; but before addressing any further representation on the subject to the French Government they await Mr. Weyman's answer to a letter addressed to him on the 27th ultimo by Her Majesty's Ambassador at Paris, communicating the substance of the reply of the French Government.