§ MR. WATT (Glasgow, Camlachie)asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether the Government have yet decided what means to adopt so as to secure from Venezuela the indemnity decided upon as due to the owners of the two British vessels improperly seized by Venezuelan officials several years ago; whether the Government have been made aware of the fact that property valued at £750,000, belonging to British subjects, has been confiscated by the Government of Venezuela since the suspension of diplomatic relations; and, whether the Government will intimate to the Government of Venezuela that they will be held responsible for all acts of spoliation of property belonging to British subjects?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Sir JAMES FERGUSSON) (Manchester, N.E.)It is unusual and inconvenient to state in advance what measures Her Majesty's Government may deem it expedient to take. No information has reached Her Majesty's Government of any such action on the part of the Venezuelan Government as that implied in the Question?