§ DR. CAMERON (Glasgow, College)asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether his attention has been called to a Reuter's telegram, dated Sydney, 9th May, to the effect that the commander of Her Majesty's Cruiser Rapid had hoisted the British flag in the Suwarew Islands, a small group in the South Pacific, to the north-west of Cook's Island; whether the statement 1851 contained in it is correct; and, if so, whether the annexation was made by instructions from the Admiralty; and whether any Papers on the subject will be laid before Parliament?
§ LORD G. HAMILTONIt is the fact that the commander of Her Majesty's ship Rapid, acting under instructions from Her Majesty's Government, annexed the Suwarew Islands on April 22 last. With regard to the production of papers on the subject, I do not think it would be desirable to publish all the correspondence at present.