§ MR. HOGAN (Tipperary, Mid.)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign affairs whether the suggestion with respect to arbitration in the case of the Costa Rica Packet has been brought under the notice of the Government of the Hague; if so, how was it received; if not, and if there is no prospect of an early conclusion to the present negotiations, will he press the proposal for arbitration on the attention of the Government of the Hague, with a view to expediting the settlement of claims arising out of the seizure and detention of the captain of the Costa Rica Packet by the Dutch Authorities in the Moluccas?
§ SIR E. GREYInstructions have been sent to Her Majesty's Minister at the Hague to renew the claim preferred by Her Majesty's Government in this case, and to press for the settlement of it without delay. I cannot make any further statement until the reply of the Netherlands Government has been received.