§ MR. CONYBEARE (Cornwall, Camborne)asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether it is the fact that the Queen Regent of Amatongaland has petitioned Her Majesty to annex that country, in consequence of the encroachments of the Portuguese on her territory; and, whether it is the fact that the Portuguese are threatening to occupy any of her territory?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Sir HENRY HOLLAND) (Hampstead)The Queen of Tongaland has more than once petitioned for British protection for annexation, and the question of the future relations to be established with her is still under consideration. In the meantime, a Treaty of friendship has been concluded with her, under which she binds herself not to enter into any Treaty with, or cede any territory to, any Foreign Power unless with the consent of Her Majesty's Government. The present proceedings of the Portuguese appear to be confined to the country north of the Maputa River and 26.30 degrees of south latitude, to which their claims were declared well founded by the award of the President of the French Republic, dated the 24th of July, 1875, in the Delagoa Bay arbitration. Portugal is debarred by that award from extending her dominion south of those limits.