§ MR. E. ROBERTSON (Dundee)On behalf of the honourable Member for the Hawick Burghs, I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to the case of the Reverend A. D. Paterson, M.A., minister of the Scotch Church in Madeira, who has been arrested, and against whom a criminal information has been laid for propagating doctrines contrary to the religion of the State; whether he is aware that the so-called evidence consists in hearsay and conjecture, the witnesses being unable to testify to any act or word on the part of Mr. Paterson insulting to the Roman Catholic religion; and that the religious service or teaching complained of is conducted in Mr. Paterson's own church and the school attached thereto, and the only fact proved against him beyond this is that ho has distributed copies of the New Testament; whether an exception to the proceedings has been taken, and an appeal to the authorities at Lisbon has been made; and whether Her Majesty's Government propose to take any steps or use any influence so as to prevent the conviction and banishment from the island of Mr. Paterson, and to protect the Protestant congregations in Madeira?
§ MR. BRODRICKThis matter is engaging the attention of Her Majesty's Government, who will take all necessary steps for the protection of British subjects in Madeira, but cannot, of course, 968 interfere with judicial proceedings. Her Majesty's Minister at Lisbon has reported by telegraph that the appeal which Mr. Paterson has made from the decision of the court at Madeira to that of Second Instance in Lisbon has been granted. He thinks it doubtful whether the case will be proceeded with. Further details are promised, and their arrival must be awaited.