HC Deb 18 March 1895 vol 31 cc1245-6
COLONEL HOWARD VINCENT (Sheffield, Central)

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if any progress has been made; towards the resumption of diplomatic relations with Venezuela, and the abolition of the differential duty levied by that Republic upon the British Exports from Trinidad?

THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Sir EDWARD GREY, Northumberland, Berwick)

No progress has been made.

SIR G. BADEN-POWELL (Liverpool, Kirkdale)

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can make any further statement as to explanations from the Government of Venezuela in reference to the recent hauling down of the British flag on British territory and forcible abduction of British police officers and men by Venezuelan armed forces; and whether, in the event of there being no reply as yet from Venezuela, Her Majesty's Government have fixed, or will fix, a specific date after which further measures will be adopted if no satisfactory explanation be given?

SIR EDWARD GREY

I cannot at the present moment add to the answer which I gave last week, but the matter will not be allowed to drop without proper reparation being secured.