§ MR. A. E. PEASE (York)asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether any further information had been received at the Foreign Office with regard to the shooting of an Englishman, Martin Parker, at Bilbao last week; whether the English Government had asked satisfaction of the Spanish Government; and, whether anything would be done to obtain compensation for the poor man's family?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Sir JAMS FERGUSSON) (Manchester, N.E.), in reply, said, that on Thursday a telegraphic account of this occurrence appeared in the newspapers, and he was asked a Question upon it, and immediately directed that telegrams should be sent to Spain for a Report of the facts. He had no doubt that a Report would be made; but he thought that the hon. Member would see that it could hardly yet have been received. A matter of such importance could not be reported upon only by telegraph. It would require a searching inquiry by the Consul at Bilbao, to begin with, and, no doubt, by the Ministers at Madrid; and it would be altogether premature to say what Her Majesty's Government would do until such Report was received. He could assure the hon. Member that the matter would not be lost sight of.
§ Subsequently,
§ SIR JAMES FERGUSSONsaid, Her Majesty's Consul had reported that he 49 had at once opened an inquiry, and was taking the depositions in the case; while the Military Commander had promised that the strictest inquiry should he made, and that the sworn Consular depositions should be joined to his proceedings.