§ MR. W. J. CORBET (Wicklow E.)asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, Whether his attention has been called to the Return just laid upon the Table relating to the "recent operations of H.M.S. Zephyr against the Natives of North Borneo;" whether the operations referred to have arisen out of a dispute in reference to the collection of edible birds' nests by the Natives, and were taken under the advice of Governor Treacher, the Assistant President of Silam, and two officers of the North Borneo Company; whether it is a fact that an armed party from the Zephyr, "with Governor Treacher at their head," destroyed the boats, burnt the villages, and destroyed the arms and food, having first shelled the Natives out of their houses, and driven men, women, and children into the jungle; whether he has noticed the following passage in the Report of the Commander of the Zephyr:—
I trust my action in this matter will meet with your approval and that of the Commander-in-Chief;and, whether Her Majesty's Government has expressed approval of such action?
§ THE FIRST LORD (Lord GEORGE HAMILTON) (Middlesex, Ealing)I am acquainted with the contents of the letter in question, from which the hon. Gentleman correctly quotes certain ex-tracts. He has omitted to notice that the Report in question concludes as follows:—
From what I heard at Silam, I certainly consider that any delay would have caused much loss of life, while at present the loss on our side is nil and I imagine the pirates are more frightened than hurt.The Government approve Commander Hope's action.