HC Deb 14 March 1895 vol 31 cc1054-5
MR. A. CROSS (Glasgow, Camlachie)

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government are now represented at Caracas with the Republic of Venezuela; and, if so, what steps, if any, are being taken to bring about a modus vivendi for the settlement of disputes now pending?

SIR EDWARD GREY

Her Majesty's Government have no diplomatic representative in Venezuela, but British interests in that country are in charge of the German Representative at Caracas. Her Majesty's Government are, and always have been, ready to come to an amicable arrangement with the Venezuelan Government for the settlement of pending disputes, and their views on the subject were communicated to that Government in 1890 and again in 1893, to the latter of which communications no answer has been returned. Her Majesty's Government must therefore maintain, the provisional boundary proclaimed in October, 1886. This boundary does not embrace their whole claim, and the Venezuelan Government have more than once been informed that Her Majesty's Government are willing to submit the right to certain territory outside this boundary to arbitration.

MR. A. CROSS

Can the hon. Baronet say whether, as the German Representative has left Caracas, British interests in Venezuela are receiving protection at the hands of any other representative man?

SIR E. GREY

I am informed that the German Charge d'Affaires is still there.

MR. R. G. WEBSTER

asked whether it was a fact that the British flag had been pulled down by Venezuelan troops in British Honduras.

SIR E. GREY

asked for notice of the question.