§ MR. SUMMERS (Huddersfield)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether, before the cession of Heligoland to Germany was determined upon by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, the Governor of the Island was consulted; and, if so, what was the opinion to which he gave expression in relation thereto?
§ *MR. W. H. SMITHI have already stated that the Governor of Heligoland 692 was in England during the time that the cession was being considered; but any communications which passed with him must necessarily be considered as confidential.
§ SIR W. LAWSON (Cumberland, Cockermouth.)Is there not some kind of Executive Council in Heligoland?
§ *MR. W. H. SMITHI stated that there was two days ago.
§ SIR W. LAWSONWas that Council consulted?
§ *MR. W. H. SMITHI am not aware, Sir.
§ MR. PICTON (Leicester)Will the right hon. Gentleman tell us whether the Governor of Heligoland took any steps himself to ascertain the views of the inhabitants?
§ *MR. W. H. SMITHI have every reason to believe that he was fully informed. As the population of the Island is only 2,000, it cannot be difficult for the Governor to be so informed.
§ MR. MONTAGU (Tower Hamlets Whitechapel)On behalf of my lion Friend the Member for Hallamshire (Sir F. Mappin) I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury, with regard to the statement that the Anglo-German Agreement depended upon the Bill to be introduced to Parliament for the cession of Heligoland, whether there is any truth in the report that the Agreement was signed at Berlin on the 1st inst by Her Majesty's Representatives; and whether he will state if Her Majesty's Government have anticipated the decision of this House upon a question of such vital importance by permitting the said Agreement to be signed?
§ SIR G. CAMPBELLMay I ask whether the possession of an island situated in the furthest part of the-German Ocean, without a harbour, without water, without even a lawyer, can really constitute a question of vital importance?
§ *MR. W. H. SMITHIt is not for me to say what may or may not be deemed a matter of vital importance by the hon. member. We are frequently reminded by him of matters which he deems to be of vital importance. In reply to the question on the Paper, I have to say that the Article ceding Heligoland makes the cession subject to the assent of the British Parliament.