HC Deb 12 March 1888 vol 323 cc864-5
MR. WATT (Glasgow, Camlachie)

asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether he has received the Report of Mr. McTurk, with reference to his recent visit to the Yurnari, at the request of the Governor of British Guiana; and, whether the Government are now prepared to state what action they propose to take with reference to the territory in dispute between Great Britain and Venezuela?

MR. HANBURY-TRACY (Montgomery, &c.)

also had the following Question on the Paper:—To ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, If it is true that the Foreign Affairs Committee of the American House of Representatives has reported, and the House has adopted, the following Resolution:— Whereas there are pending questions of disputed boundary between Venezuela and the Colony of British Guiana, and whereas it is alleged that the British Government has made claim for the said Colony to a considerable portion of valuable territory now and heretofore in the possession of Venezuela, and has refused to submit to arbitration the said questions of disputed boundary, it is resolved that the President be requested to send to the House, if not incompatible with the public interest, all documents and correspondence between our Government and Great Britain or Venezuela relating to the said questions of disputed boundary; and, whether, Her Majesty's Government having stated that they are not opposed to the principle of arbitration, he will state what stops have been taken, or are about to be taken, to bring about a settlement of the dispute?

THE UNDER SECRETARY of STATE (Sir JAMES FERGUSSON) (Manchester, N. E.)

I will, with the permission of the House, answer at the same time the Question of the hon. Member for the Montgomery Boroughs (Mr. Hanbury-Tracy.) Her Majesty's Government are not informed that the American House of Representatives has passed the Resolution referred to. The Report of Mr. McTurk upon his recent journey into the Yurnari District has been received; but I am not in a position to make any statement in regard to it, or upon the question of arbitration concerning the territory.