HC Deb 07 November 1893 vol 18 cc340-1
MR. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis)

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he had seen a statement, vouched by an officer of Her Majesty's ship Pallas, and published in The Times of the 6th October, that, during the so-called "pacific blockade" of Bangkok by the French, Her Majesty's ships Pallas, Swift, and Pigmy, were all "removed outside the blockade limits at the orders of the French Admiral," and remained outside the blockade limits until a French gunboat came down and informed us that the blockade was raised, when we returned with the Pigmy to the bar off Bangkok; whether he has made any inquiry into the accuracy of this statement; whether he is able to inform the House of the actual facts of the case; and whether he will lay upon the Table of the House the instructions sent to Her Majesty's ships as to their conduct during the so-called "pacific blockade"?

* SIR E. GREY

The answer to the first and second paragraphs is, Yes. H.M.S. Pallas, Swift, and Pigmy did move outside the blockade lines after receiving notice of the blockade from the French Admiral, the captain of H.M.S. Pallas preferring to do this rather than to remain inside. He received no "order," as it has been called, from the French Admiral with reference to his movements. The only instruction given on the subject of the blockade was that the first consideration must be the protection of British subjects at Bangkok, and that the Linnet must on no account leave under present circumstances. She accordingly remained there.

SIR E. ASHMEAD-BARTLETT

I suppose thou, after that answer, the hon. Baronet will withdraw the contrary answer he gave to me last August.

* SIR E. GREY

No, I do not, because the answer was not contrary. I told the hon. Member at the time that no demand had been made for the withdrawal of Her Majesty's vessels from Bangkok, and that no such demand would have been admitted if made. My answer to-day concludes by saying that the instruction given on the subject was that the Linnet (the only vessel then at Bangkok) was on no account to leave, and she accordingly remained there.

MR. GIBSON BOWLES

Are we to understand that these vessels left of their own accord, and without any request from the French Commander?

* SIR E. GREY

No. The captain of the Pallas received notice from the French Admiral as to the line of blockade. He was left to take what measures he thought proper for observing the blockade, and he moved outside the blockade limit. But he might equally have remained inside, so far as any request from the French Admiral was concerned.

MR. GIBSON BOWLES

But did not the Chancellor of the Exchequer state that this was no blockade at all? By what authority or shadow of right was an order given by the French Admiral to an English Commander?

* SIR E. GREY

The French Government stated to Her Majesty's Government that the blockade would begin on the 31st. While communications were still passing, the French Admiral, by a misunderstanding, had already given notice of the blockade. It was, therefore, impossible that more definite instructions could have been sent.