MR. KEIRHARDIE (Merthyr Tydvil)I beg to ask the under Secretary of 654 State for Foreign Affairs whether the claims against the Venezuelan Government, which have necessitated the despatch of warships and have brought about joint action on the part of the British and German Governments, are private traders' claims; and whether there is any precedent for the course taken in order to secure the payment of debts due to private individuals.
§ *THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (LORD CRANBORNE,) RochesterThe nature of the British claims on Venezuela, which have necessitated resort to coercive measures, will be fully disclosed in the Papers on the subject, which will be laid before Parliament. The claims in question include, amongst other matters demands for compensation on account of unjustifiable interference with British trading vessels, for imprisonment and ill-treatment of British subjects, and seizure and destraction of British property, and for damage to railway lines, rolling stock, etc., the property of British companies. I believe that there is ample precedent for the enforcement, by active measures, of claims analogous to those which I have mentioned.
§ MR. BRYCE () Aberdeen, S.I beg to ask the Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs whether he can give the House any information, in addition to that in the newspapers, in regard to the position of things in Venezuela.
§ *LORD CRANBORNEI do not know that I have very much to add. The House is aware that it became necessary for His Majesty's Government and the German Government to present an Ultimatum to the Government of Venezuela, and some details of the claims contained in that Ultimatum I have already given. Thereupon our Minister was ordered to remain twenty-four hours at Caracas, and failing a reply from the Venezuelan Government to go down to La Guaira and wait on board one of His Majesty's ships for twenty-four hours more. This he did. Both those periods were exhausted at 7 o'clock last night; and unless in the meantime some concession has been received from the Government of Venezuela, His Majesty's ships will undertake forcible action. We have not 655 yet received any information that that forcible action had been carried into effect. As soon as we receive it I shall be only too glad to give the information to the House.
§ *SIR CHARLES DILKE () Gloucestershire, Forest of DeanIs the statement in the newspapers untrue that we have seized eight ships, and that the Venezuelans have seized 200 British and German subjects?
§ *LORD CRANBORNEWe have no information certainly as to the latter part of the question. As to the former part, possibly it may be true; but I cannot give any official information at the present moment.
§ *LORD CRANBORNEI cannot absolutely promise a date, but I can promise the House and the right hon. Gentleman that there shall be no unnecessary delay.