§ * SIR CHARLES DILKE (Gloucestershire, Forest of Dean)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any steps have been taken, in accord with the terms of the Convention relating to the settlement of certain claims in Samoa for the submission of these claims to the arbitration of the King of Sweden and Norway; whether the Foreign Office is in possession of any information concerning the approximate date of the issue of the arbitrator's award; and whether the United States and German Governments were willing to include Samoan native claims; and whether His Majesty's Government dissented; and, if so, on what grounds.
§ * LORD CRANBORNEThe British, German, and American cases are now before the King of Sweden. The counter-cases, which must be handed in before the 1st of March, are in course of preparation. In these circumstances His Majesty's Government are necessarily unable to state at what date the award will be issued. It does not appear that any proposal was made either by the German or by the United States Governments to include in the scope of the arbitration the claims of Samoan natives.
§ * SIR CHARLES DILKEHas the attention of the noble Lord been called to the statement by Count Von Bülow; on this subject?
§ * LORD CRANBORNEI will inquire into that.