§ MR. HOGAN (Tipperary, Mid.)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, as stated in The Times report of the recent hostilities in Samoa, whereas two Gorman men-of-war were in port at the time, no British man-of-war was present, if required, for the protection of British interests; and having regard to the fact that a conflict between the forces of Malietoa and Mataafa had been impend- 1205 ing for some time, why a British man-of-war was not. present in the harbour of Apia?
§ *THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Sir E. GREY,) Northumberland, BerwickAs I informed the hon. Member on July 27, the three Treaty Powers did decide to send ships of war to Samoa with the object of putting an end to political disturbance. H.M.S. Katoomba arrived at Apia on July 16, and found that an engagement had taken place between the forces of Malietoa and those of Mataafa some eight days previously, which had ended in the defeat of the latter and his retreat to the Island of Manona. The combined English and German Squadron at once proceeded to the scene of action. Mataafa and his adherents surrendered, and the war was terminated without a shot being fired by the ships.