HC Deb 13 June 1899 vol 72 c1064
MR. HOGAN

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the agreement recently entered into practically amounts to a British Protectorate over the Native Kingdom of Tonga; and whether the action of the captain of H.M.S. Tauranga was authorised by Her Majesty's Government or Her Majesty's High Commissioner for the Western Pacific?

*THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (MR. BRODRICK, Surrey, Guildford)

The answer to the first paragraph is in the negative. The action of the captain of the Tauranga was authorised by Her Majesty's Government.