§ MR. T. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis)I beg to ask the Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs (1) whether Her Majesty's Government recognise the hostilities now taking place between France and Madagascar as constituting a state of War, and as giving, both to France and Madagascar, belligerent rights as against neutrals; if so, whether Her Majesty's Government propose (as is usual in war) to prohibit all ships of war of either belligerent from making use of any port or roadstead, either in the United Kingdom, or in any British Colony, dependency, or possession, for any warlike purpose, from remaining in any such port or roadstead more than 24 hours, and from taking in any provisions beyond what may be necessary for immediate use: (2) whether, in that case, Her Majesty's Government propose to pursue the usual course (as was pursued with regard to the war between China and Japan) of giving to Her Majesty's subjects due notice by Proclamation of the existence of state of war, and enjoining on them the duty of observing strict neutrality between the belligerents, and of abstaining from giving assistance to either of them; and (3) in case Her Majesty's Government hold that these hostilities do not constitute a state of war, whether Her Majesty's Government have taken, or will take, such steps as may be necessary to protect Her Majesty's subjects in the exercise of their rights of free access to the coasts and ports both of France and Madagascar, without interference, either by visit and search on the high seas, or by so-called blockade or otherwise, 1266 on the part of either party to these hostilities?
§ *SIR E. GREYHer Majesty's Government consider that a state of hostilities exists between France and Madagascar, which may involve the exercise of belligerent rights as against neutrals. But in cases where such hostilities are not likely to extend to the high seas, it is not necessary for purposes of neutrality, nor has it been usual, to issue regulations of the nature described. The question asked in the second paragraph has already been answered in the negative. With reference to the third paragraph. Her Majesty's Government will be ready to protect British subjects in the exercise of such rights as they are properly entitled to in the circumstances of the case.