MR.HENNIKERHEATON (Canterbury)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been drawn to the statement that an English firm of shipowners has contracted to carry materials of war for the French Government to Madagascar; whether France and Madagascar are already in a state of war, or at least have indulged in mutual acts of hostility; and, whether, as this country is in the position of a neutral Power towards both belligerents, it is the intention of the Government to take any steps to prevent materials of war from being carried for either party by contract on British steamships?
§ MR. SPICER (Monmouth)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been drawn to the Debate in the French Chamber of Deputies on Saturday last, in which it was stated that an English firm has contracted to convey war material for the French Government to Madagascar, a friendly Power; and, if this is permitted by International Law; if so, what action the Government propose to take to safeguard the lives of English people in Madagascar, which may be endangered by this apparent evidence to the Native population of the sympathy of England with the designs of France?
§ SIR H. HOWORTH (Salford, S.)I beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has considered if the transporting in English vessels of French troops or materials of war for the purpose of fighting the Malagasies, with whom England is at peace, constitutes a breach of the Foreign Enlistment Act; and, if so, whether the Government propose to take any steps to prevent such transport in future?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Sir E. GREY, Northumberland, Berwick)Perhaps I may answer these questions together. We have not received any notice either from France or Madagascar that they are at war, but hostilities have taken place, and the question as to the operation of the Foreign Enlistment Act will be considered in conjunction with the Law Officers.
MR. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis)May I ask whether the hostilities now taking place are held to constitute a state of war, with its consequences?
§ SIR E. GREYI believe it has been held in practice that a state of war may be constituted by the breaking out of hostilities; but that is a point which will be taken notice of by the Law Officers.
§ MR. C. J. DARLING (Deptford)Has it not always been recognised in this House, that there is all the difference in the world between a state of war and military operations such as those which took place in Egypt?
§ SIR E. GREYI have no doubt that these questions of previous practice will be taken into consideration by the Law Officers.