§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKEI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether a declaration having been signed by Lord Salisbury, August 5th 1890, recognising a French Protectorate over Madagascar "with its consequences," Her Majesty's Government will lay before Parliament the Treaty of Peace between France and 239 Madagascar, as published by the Malagasy Madagascar, Government at Antananarivo in 1886, with the letter signed by the French Plenipotentiaries, and dated the day previous to the date borne by the Treaty, which was also contained in the Madagascar Red Book.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOUR (Manchester, E.)May I ask whether it is not a fact that the Treaty to which reference is made in the question was concluded in 1886 with the French Government, and brought under the notice of Her Majesty's Government of that day, and that no objection whatever was taken to its terms?
§ * THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Sir EDWARD GREY,) Northumberland, BerwickIn March, 1886, the Treaty which was communicated to the French Chambers was laid before Parliament. A circular dispatch relating to it addressed to the French representatives at the principal Courts was laid at the same time. Her Majesty's Government subsequently learned that the Treaty had been published in Madagascar with a letter annexed to it signed by the French Plenipotentiaries, but it is understood that the French Government have never admitted that they were bound by the letter. Under these circumstances, Her Majesty's Government is unwilling to lay before Parliament a letter of officers of a foreign Government which is not acknowledged by that Government. In answer to the question put by the Leader of the Opposition, I have to say that the facts are as stated by the right hon. Gentleman.