§ MR. BILL (Staffordshire, Leek)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to an article by M. Lavisse, a distinguished member of the French Academy, in the Revue de Paris for this month, in which it is stated that the geographical position of Waima has been determined to be in Liberia, and not in the Protectorate of Sierra Leone, and whether Her Majesty's Government accept that statement as correct; whether Her Majesty's Government have agreed 661 with the Government of the French Republic to treat a collision which occurred between English and French troops at N'Compah, in the Colony of the Gambia, as a set-off against the Waima affair; and, if so, what was the date of that incident, and what were the casualties to the respective forces; and in what way do Her Majesty's Government now propose to secure adequate compensation to the families of the officers and men killed at Waima in December 1893.
§ MB. BRODRICK1. The attention of the Secretary of State has been called to the article mentioned. Her Majesty's Government are not prepared to accept the statements contained in it as correct. Waima has been proved to be situated about twelve miles on the British side of the frontier. 2. The answer is in the negative. 3. A claim has been made on the French Government for compensation, and any case of urgency will be considered.