§ MR. WILLIAM JOHNSTON (Belfast, S.)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been called to a statement, published by the London Missionary Society, concerning the terrible straits to which the Protestant natives of Madagascar are reduced since the conquest of the Island by the French Republic; that at least 20 Protestant places of worship have been taken possession of by the Roman Catholics with the sanction of French officers; and that Protestants are threatened and ill-treated on the ground that British missionaries are their friends; and, whether the British Government will endeavour to secure the liberty and property of the Protestants according to the assurances given to Lord Salisbury at the time of the French expedition to Madagascar?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. G. CURZON,) Lancashire, SouthportI have seen the statements as to the Protestant natives of Madagascar, and can assure the hon. Member that the position of British missions and of British subjects generally in Madagascar is receiving the earnest attention of Her Majesty's Government, who are about to address representations to the French Government on the subject. ["Hear, hear!"]