§ ADMIRAL COMMERELL (Southampton)(for Admiral MAYNE) (Pembroke and Haverfordwest) asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether the Government have received a. telegram from the Sultan of Brunei begging that Her Majesty's Government will pay no attention to any representations they may receive from the Rajah of Sarawak, or other people, regarding the affairs of Brunei. Limbang, and Putong, but await the arrival of his (the Sultan's) letter; and, whether this telegram came through the regular official channel, the Consul General, or direct from the Sultan; and, if direct, whether Her Majesty's Go- 248 vernment are aware of any reason for its being so sent?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Sir JAMES FERGUSSON) (Manchester, N.E.)A telegram was received through the Colonial Office on the 1st of March from a merchant in London, to whom it had been sent from Singapore, stating that the Sultan of Brunei had requested him to represent to the Secretary of State to suspend action in regard to complaints from the Government of Sarawak or others against him, and that the Sultan had explained matters by mail. The probable reason why this message did not come through the regular official channel is that the Sultan believed that the Consul General had made complaints of him. That, however, was not the case. The letter indicated in the telegram has now arrived, and is being translated.