§ GENERAL J. W. LAURIE (Pembroke and Haverfordwest)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to the case of John E. Tanner, a British subject, mate of the British schooner Ida, of Halifax, Nova Scotia, who is stated to have been forcibly taken off his vessel by an armed boat's crew from the Spanish warship Criolla, on the 5th May, 1897, at Vajardo, Porto Rico, on a charge of having injured a lighterman named Manuel Santana, and to have been then detained without any trial or examination until the 2nd July, when he was set at liberty; and if his attention has been called to it, and the matter has been investigated, and the facts are as stated, whether any claim has been made on the Spanish Government for compensation for this wrongful treatment; and whether 1212 Messrs. George Mitchell and Son, the owners of the schooner Ida, have submitted a claim for expenses incurred in endeavouring to obtain the release of said John Tanner, also for detention of their vessel at Vajardo for 17 days, and for damages for loss of market through detention of vessel; and, if so, whether a settlement of these claims is being pressed for by Her Majesty's Government?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. G. N. CURZON,) Lancashire, SouthportThis case has been brought to the notice of the Foreign Office. Her Majesty's Consul at Porto Rico was instructed to make inquiry into the circumstances, and directed to render such assistance as he properly could. The Consul's dispatch received in reply shows that the facts are generally as stated in the Question. He also reported that he had taken measures to secure proper treatment for Tanner while in prison, and had made repeated endeavours to have the trial brought on as soon as possible. He finally obtained Tanner's provisional release on himself depositing a guarantee for the sum of £50. There were, however, certain discrepancies between the Consul's account and that contained in a statutory declaration made by the Master of the Ida, and the former was instructed to report further on these points. To that instruction no reply has yet been received. Messrs. George Mitchell and Son have submitted a claim, but pending the arrival of an answer, it has not yet been put forward.
§ GENERAL LAURIEWhen is an answer likely to be obtained?
§ MR. CURZONThat really depends on the post.
§ GENERAL LAURIENot on the Consul?
§ MR. CURZONWell, on both.