§ MR. SCHWANN (Manchester, N.)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that when the Belgian steamer Le Roi Souverain reached Boma a month or two ago, the Governor General went on board and selected 83 Krooboys (out of 400 contracted as labourers for the Railway Company) as soldiers and marched them oft in spite of the captain's protest on their behalf; if he has no information, will he make inquiries on the subject; and are Kroomen under the protection of the British Crown?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Sir J. FERGUSSON,) Manchester, N.E.We have no information on the subject. If by the term "Kroomen" natives of the Kroo coast are indicated, the answer is that they are not under British protection. It is not for Her Majesty's Government to inquire into the conduct of a Belgian official where no British interests are concerned.