§ MR. PICTON (Leicester)(for Mr. CONYBEARE) (Cornwall, Camborne) asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether any, and what, steps were taken, and, if so, when, to cause King Ja Ja to understand the meaning and effect upon his territory of the arrangements concluded by the Berlin Conference; and, whether he can specify the particular provisions of the Berlin Treaty of July 13, 1878, which have any bearing upon, or relation to, the conduct of King Ja Ja?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Sir JAMES FERGUSSON) (Manchester, N.E.)The hon. Member appears to confuse the Berlin Conference of 1878, which had reference chiefly to the affairs of Eastern Europe, and that of 1885, which dealt with those of Africa. Ja Ja was informed by Acting Consul White of the only provisions of the Act of Berlin of 1885 which affected him—namely, the engagement of Her Majesty's Government to permit freedom of navigation within the protectorate of the Niger and its branches, as appears on page 33 of the Paper lately presented to Parliament.
§ In reply to Mr. W. REDMOND (Fermanagh, N.),
§ SIR JAMES FERGUSSONsaid, the King was now living in the Government House at St. Vincent. When a settled Government had been established in his former territory, which he hoped would shortly be the case, the King would probably be allowed to return.