§ MR. TOMLINSONOn behalf of Mr. Lawrence (Liverpool, Abercromby), I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether it is a fact that Heremakono, which is about 200 miles from Sierra Leone and well within the sphere of British influence (being south of the tenth degree of N. latitude) as defined by the Treaty between Great Britain and France of 1889, is now occupied by French troops; if so, whether Her Majesty's Government will call upon the French Government to withdraw from that post; and what was the result of the expedition to Falaba and Heremakono which left Sierra Leone early last year under the then Administrator of the Government, Sir William Quayle Jones, and whether 1477 Papers relating to that Expedition can be laid upon the Table?
§ MR. S. BUXTONHeremakono is at present occupied by French troops. Her Majesty's Government have for some time past been in correspondence with that of France on the subject. The fact of Heremakono being south of the tenth parallel of latitude, and, therefore, within the British boundary under the agreement of 1889, is disputed by the French Government. Further information on the point is now being awaited, upon the receipt of which the discussion of the question will be resumed. Sir W. Quayle Jones succeeded in the principal objects of his Mission, which were to open the roads, which had been closed by quarrels between various Native Chiefs, and to make some arrangement with the Sofas at Heremakono for the protection from their attacks of the people within the sphere of British influence. It is not considered desirable, in the public interests, to lay the Papers on the Table at present.