§ DR. TANNER (Cork, Mid)asked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any special instructions had been given to protect the Newfoundland fishermen on the western coast of that island; and whether any specific assurance had been sought from the French Admiral commanding in those waters that the Newfoundland fishermen should not have their nets destroyed, as has recently been done?
§ BARON H. DE WORMSThe general instructions issued to the British naval officers sufficiently meet the objects indicated in the first part of the hon. Member's question. In reply to the second part of the question, I have to say that no complaint has recently been made to Her Majesty's Government about the destruction of British nets by order of French naval officers; but if any well-founded complaint should be made of the improper interference by the French with British fishermen, it will form the subject of representations to the French Government, with the object of preventing such interference in future.