§ SIR WHITTAKER ELLIS (Surrey, Kingston)asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, If he is aware that Mr. Maxwell Wright, a British subject, is now waiting his trial on a question of offence against religion at Santa Cruz; that he has applied unsuccessfully to the Authorities at Lisbon to allow the trial to take place at Funchal; and, whether the Foreign Office will take steps to insure him a fair hearing?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Sir JAMES FERGUSSON) (Manchester, N.E.)This question has been before the Foreign Office for some time past. Her Majesty's Consul in Madeira is under instructions to watch carefully the proceedings in the case, and to afford Mr. Wright all the assistance he properly can. Her Majesty's Minister at Lisbon has, moreover, been instructed to request the friendly intervention of the Portuguese Government in order to procure a change of venue to Funchal, if the case should be one for trial by jury; and the matter will not be lost sight of.