§ MR. HEDDERWICKI beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether Her Majesty's Government have abandoned the claim for compensation from France in respect of the British Officers 984 killed by French troops at Waima; and, if not, whether he will state what steps Her Majesty's Government are taking, and what stage the negotiations have reached?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYI regret that I can add nothing to the answer given by the Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs on the 2nd inst. —namely, that communications were addressed to the French Government on 14th July 1898, and that no reply has been received. It is proposed to deal with the claims in question in connection with others arising out of affairs in West Africa now under consideration.
§ SIR E. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTMay I ask whether a similar answer was not given to me in 1893, and in every succeeding year since that date?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYI do not think a precisely similar answer could have been given, as the answer I read refers to communications in 1898.
§ MR. HEDDERWICKDo I understand the Government have taken no further steps?
§ THE FIRST LORD of THE TREASURYThey are taking further steps.