§ MR. SCHWANN () Manchester, N.I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he proposes to give any information to the House as to the 1213 grounds upon which an attack has been made by the British fleet on the fleet of the Government of Venezuela; and if Papers will be laid upon the Table giving details, and when.
§ THE PRIME MINISTER AND FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR,) Manchester, E.These Papers are now to be had at the Vote Office.
§ MR. SCHWANNDoes not the right hon. Gentleman propose to give us a definite opportunity before the prorogation of discussing the matter?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThat is not the question.
§ LOUD CHARLES BERESFORD () WoolwichMay I ask my right hon. friend, as the British and German Governments are acting together with regard to Venezuela, whether the British Government are responsible in any way for any act the German Government my think it right to take: and whether the British Government are responsible in any way for the sinking of the Venezuelan vessels?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThat is a question entirely for the German Government, and not for us.
§ MR. DALZIEL () Kirkcaldy BurghsIs there any foundation for the suggestion which has appeared in the morning papers, on the authority of a Reuter's dispatch, to the effect that the British Admiral was responsible for the sinking of the captured Venezuelan ships. Is the noble Lord in a position to give us any further information on the subject?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Lord CRANBORNE,) RochesterThe answer to the question is in the negative. The operations against the Venezuelan ships were undertaken in some cases by the British naval authorities and in the remainder by the German. We are informed that the German Commodore found it necessary to sink two gunboats.
§ MR. T. M. HEALYWhat is the comparative value of the German claims on Venezuela and of the gunboats which have been sunk?