§ MR. DAVID THOMAS (Merthyr Tydvil)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the care of the interests of the Welsh residents in Patagonia comes within the scope of the functions of the Foreign or Colonial Departments; whether he is now aware that the Canadian Government is willing to reserve a complete township at a place to be chosen by the Colonists or their representatives for the purposes of the proposed Welsh colony, and to appoint a special staff to accompany and assist the emigrants, and to provide house accommodation for two or three months while the emigrants are putting up houses, and give a bonus of £1 per head to the 500 Welsh settlers who have expressed their wish to leave Patagonia for Canada; whether he will take steps to enable these emigrants to avail themselves of this offer; and whether Mr. Scott, of His Majesty's Legation at Buenos Ayres, during his recent visit to Patagonia, ascertained if any of the settlers desired to return to Wales.
§ LORD CRANBORNEThe care of the interests of all British subjects in
† See (4) Debates ci., 308.185 foreign countries is the business of the Foreign Office. In answer to the second paragraph of the Question, I am informed by the High Commissioner for Canada that the statement is correct. There is no mention in Mr. Scott's Report of any wish on the part of the Welsh Colonists referred to, to proceed to Wales.