MR. J. PARKER-SMITH (Lanark, Partick)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that the Mala Real Portugueza Company, which became bankrupt nearly two years ago owing some hundreds of pounds to the British engineers in its service, has been spending considerable sums out of its funds in Court, but has refused to satisfy the claims of the men in its employ; and that the British Minister at Lisbon has recently given orders to the lawyers he engaged to proceed no further in pushing the claims of the engineers; what is the reason of this action; and whether Her Majesty's Government is able to do any- 19 thing to assist the men in question in recovering the wages due to them?
§ SIR E. GREYIt is unfortunately true that owing to the methods pursued in the administration of bankrupt estates by the Portuguese tribunals the creditors of the Mala Real Company have as yet received nothing, and that among those creditors are a number of British engineers who were in the Company's employ. The case has throughout been watched with care by the British Minister at Lisbon; the employment of a lawyer has been discontinued, as it did not seem that for the present his services were likely to be of use, but Her Majesty's Minister will take any opportunity that may offer of pressing the men's claims. The delay which is occurring is highly discreditable, but as the matter is in the hands of the Judicial Authorities, and the legal remedies of the claimants are not exhausted, it is difficult to make out a proper case for diplomatic representations.