HC Deb 27 April 1903 vol 121 cc465-6
MR. SCHWANN (Manchester, N.)

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what arrangements have been come to with the Government of Venezuela as to the order in which the claims of the various nations are to be considered by The Hague Arbitration Tribunal; and whether the Venezuelan Government refuses to pay any portion of the war expenses of those nations who lately participated in the blockade of the Venezuelan coast; and, if so, what do those expenses amount to as far as regards the United Kingdom.

LORD CRANBORNE

The claims of the various nations against Venezuela will not be considered by the Tribunal of Arbitration at The Hague, but by mixed Commissions which will meet at Caracas. The provisions respecting the Commission which is to examine the British claims are contained in Articles III. and IV. of the Protocol signed on 13th February, 1903. As explained in reply to a question on the 21st instant,† negotiations are still proceeding with regard to the terms of the reference to The Hague under Article V. of the Protocol, and no statement can yet be made with regard to the points mentioned in the latter part of the hon. Member's Question.

MR. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis)

Do I understand from the noble Lord that the terms of the reference to The Hague Tribunal have not yet been settled?

LORD CRANBORNE

Yes, that is so.