§ MR. J. AIRD (Paddington,N.)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that in June, 1887, the Anglo-Portuguese Gas and Water Company, Limited, was incorporated to construct gas and water works at Figueira da Foz in Portugal, with a distinct understanding from the town, confirmed by the Portuguese Minister at Lisbon, that the import duty on the material required for the construction of these works would afterwards be remitted, and that the Company then deposited the amount of the duty with the Customs authorities, and constructed the works, involving an outlay of £45,000, under the promise that a Bill would be introduced to return the duty; and whether, repeated applications having been made to the Portuguese Government, and also to the British Ambassador at Lisbon, as to the return of the deposit, and without result, Her Majesty's Government will bring the matter before the Portuguese Government?
§ SIR EDWARD GREYThe circumstances of this case are substantially as stated in the question. Instructions were sent last January to Her Majesty's Minister at Lisbon to press for the immediate satisfaction of the Company's claim, and he has addressed an urgent representation to the Portuguese Government on the subject.