HC Deb 14 March 1895 vol 31 cc1056-7
MR. T. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis)

I beg to ask the under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, whether the police Inspector sent out to Argentine in pursuit of Mr. Jabez Balfour (now and for more than a year past at Salta, some 2,000 miles from Buenos Ayres) has ever been at or near Salta, or whether he has remained at Buenos Ayres; and, if so, for what purpose he has remained there; whether he will explain why Her Majesty's Consul at Buenos Ayres has been absent from his post at Buenos Ayres for a whole year, leaving his work to be done by a Vice Consul, and has been during that time at Salta, and for what purpose he has been there; and whether any extra remuneration has been given (and, if so, how much in each case) to the Consul or the Vice Consul respectively for the additional work done by them?

SIR EDWARD GREY

It is usual in Extradition cases to send out a police officer to convey the prisoner to England. As was stated the other day, this was the duty intrusted to the Police Inspector who was sent to the Argentine Republic. The first Inspector who was sent remained at Buenos Ayres to be ready to perform this duty, and the one who has taken his place is there now for the same purpose. The Consul was sent to Salta lo watch the Extradition proceedings, which took place in the Salta Court, from which Court there was an appeal to the Supreme Court at Buenos Ayres. No additional remuneration has been given to either the Consul or Vice Consul, but the expenses of the former were paid.