§ MR. PICTONI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government are now in possession of further information with regard to the Congo Free State, and especially whether they have examined the Royal Decree issued by King Leopold, as Sovereign of the Congo Free State, on 29th September, 1891, appropriating to the use of the State the fruits of its domains; whether this decree or any previous document on which it may be based, if such has been issued, has been sanctioned by Her Majesty's Government and other signatories to the Berlin Act of 1885, as regards its supersession of the stipulations 381 of that Act, to the effect that the trade of all nations shall enjoy complete freedom in all the regions forming the basins of the Congo and its outlets; and whether he will inform the House as to the origin, nature, and validity of the doctrine of State domains in Africa?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Sir E. GREY,) Northumberland, BerwickDecrees of the Congo State do not require the sanction of the signatories of the Berlin Act, but they must be consistent with that Act. The decrees in question were really issued in 1889, and doubts with regard to their consistency have been expressed both by Her Majesty's Government and by companies commercially interested. It is understood that important modifications have been made and will be duly notified. As implied in a previous answer to the hon. Member, it is difficult to define the extent and validity of the doctrine of State domains.
§ MR. PICTONWill the Secretary of State give special attention to the consistency or otherwise of these decrees with the ordinary conditions of the Convention?
§ SIR E. GREYAs I have said, that is a point on which doubts have already been expressed, and in consequence it is understood important modifications have been made.