MR. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government have any information as to the progress, present aspect, and prospects of the war which has been carried on by the Dutch against the Acheenese during the last 20 years; whether, by the Treaty of Perpetual Defensive Alliance, of 22nd April, 1819, between Great Britain and Acheen, Great Britain undertook to defend the Acheenese from aggression: whether, under the rule of the Law of Nations, laid down by the Black Sea Conference of London on the 17th January, 1871, Great Britain is still bound by that Treaty, or whether she has ever been released from her obligation by Acheen; and whether Her Majesty's Government, taking into consideration the Treaty of 1819, will now either carry out the engagements of Great Britain under the Treaty, or will use its influence with the Government of Holland to bring about some accommodation whereby an end may be put to the war in Acheen?
§ *THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Sir E. GREY,) Northumberland, BerwickThe latest Reports do not indicate any prospect of a cessation of the chronic state of warfare which has unfortunately existed for so long. A recent Ordinance issued by the Netherlands Indian Government has, however, partially relaxed the blockade of the coast of Acheen. It appears to have been held by successive Governments, at various times, that the provisions of the Treaty of 1819 had not been uninter- 1543 ruptedly observed on either side, and could no longer be said to be in force.
MR. GIBSON BOWLESCannot the hon. Baronet give me some answer to the last three paragraphs of my question?
§ SIR E. GREYThe last lines of my answer fully cover those questions.