§ MR. HOGAN (Tipperary, Mid)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs will he explain on what grounds, as stated in a Press telegram recently received from Sydney, Her Majesty's Government has claimed from the Dutch Government £2,500 as compensation to Captain Carpenter of the Costa Rica Packet, a vessel belonging to New South Wales, for his improper imprisonment and detention at Ternate, Molucca Islands, whereas no claim has been made for the detention of the ship and of the crew, who also suffered great hardship and sustained serious loss, in consequence of the imprisonment of the captain?
§ SIR E. GREYThe case has been carefully considered in consultation with the Law Officers of the Crown. Her Majesty's Government are advised that the evidence was not sufficient to make out even such a case of reasonable suspicion as could be treated as a sufficient cause for the arrest of the complainant, and that on the ground of the entire want of reasonable evidence the claim for conpensation for personal damage by Captain Carpenter may be founded. It is not, however, considered that the alleged loss to the crew and owners of the Costa Rica Packet can probably be included in the claim. That loss is not so necessarily the result of the arrest of the master as to make it a fit subject for a claim.
§ MR. W. REDMOND (Clare, E.)Can the hon. Gentleman say if he has received any communication from the Government of New South Wales on this question; and, if so, will not Her Majesty's Government endeavour in this matter to meet the wishes of the Colonial Ministry?
§ SIR E. GREYHer Majesty's Government can only act on the advice given them as to the legal merits of the claim. Any question as to the action of the New South Wales Government should be addressed to the Secretary of State for the Colonies.