§ MR. W. A. M'ARTHUR (Cornwall, Mid, St. Austell)asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, If he will give the date on which the English Government agreed to sanction the abandonment by Germany of the Convention respecting Samoa?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Sir JAMES FERGUSSON) (Manchester, N.E.)No formal agreement has been entered into for the abrogation of the Convention of 1879 respecting the Municipal Board of Apia; but as the continuance of that Board had become impracticable, orders were, on the 24th of February, sent to the Acting British Consul to consider the Convention as suspended. The district has accordingly passed under the control of the de facto Samoan Government, as provided by Article 10 of the Convention in case of its termination.
§ In reply to further Questions from Mr. W. A. M'ARTHUR,
1820§ SIR JAMES FERGUSSON saidIn the reply which I gave on May 3, the date which I mentioned refers to the present year. I then stated accurately that the German Government had informed Her Majesty's Government that it was their intention to demand reparation from Malietoa, which, of course, might involve further proceedings. The telegram informing the British Consul was delayed, because no vessel was immediately available to forward it from New Zealand; and the Consul, in the absence of instructions, acted on his own responsibility.
§ MR. W. A. M'ARTHURAre we to understand that the German Government gave such short notice that there was no time for inquiry?
§ SIR JAMES FERGUSSONWe are now coming to an entirely different matter, and I ought to have Notice of the Question.
§ MR. CONYBEARE (Cornwall, Camborne)Will the right hon. Gentleman lay a Return upon the Table showing the grounds upon which Consuls can act without instructions from their superiors?
§ SIR JAMES FERGUSSONThere can be no possible reason why Notice of a Question of that kind should not be given.