§ MR. W. H. JAMES (Gateshead)asked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether he is aware that in Tonga the youths who were set to hard labour for refusing to take the military oath, and many other persons who were imprisoned for attending Wesleyan places of worship, are still working out their sentences; and, whether a Proclamation restoring religious freedom to the Islands has been issued by the King or Mr. Shirley Baker, in conformity with the promise made to Her Majesty's High Commissioner?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Baron HENRY DE WORMS) (Liverpool, East Toxteth)Her Majesty's Government have not received information showing that many persons are still working out their sentences. In June last the Acting Vice-Consul at Tonga brought before the local Premier a Report that—
The college and other men convicted for not taking the military oath were still working as prisoners;to which Mr. Baker replied that the King—Has to the very best of his ability complied with all the promises made to Sir Charles Mitchell, and is not aware of any promise so made remaining unfulfilled;also, that with regard to the political prisoners refusing to take the oath, the two whom his Excellency requested to 561 be set at liberty were immediately set free. The Proclamation of religious freedom is reported to have been published in Lifuka; but it is not known here whether it has been published in the other Islands. As the Secretary of State informed the House on the 21st ultimo, it is desirable to await the further information which Sir Charles Mitchell will be able to give when he arrives here next month.