§ MR. LAMBERTI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will state the date of the first intimation to the American Government of the proposed co-operation of Germany with England for exercising pressure on Venezuela.
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Lord CRANBORNE,) RochesterNo formal intimation was made to the American Government in regard to the co-operation of the two Powers. Each of them, however, at different times informed the American Government that they might be compelled to resort to coercive measures against Venezuela. Before these measures were commenced the United States Government had undertaken that its representative at Caracas would take charge of British and German interests.
§ MR. LAMBERTThe noble Lord has not said what was the date the first intimation was given to the American Government.
§ LORD CRANBORNEI have nothing to add to the statement I have read for the hon. Gentleman. No formal representation was made to the American Government with regard to the co-operation of the two Powers.
§ LORD CRANBORNEIf the hon. Gentleman had listened to my answer he would have found out.
§ MR. NORMAN (Wolverhampton S.)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will state whether the original proposals for Anglo-German co-operation regarding Venezuela came from His Majesty's Government or from the German Government.
§ LORD CRANBORNEWe were aware as far back as the beginning of the last year from the German Government that they were contemplating the necessity of resorting to measures of coercion against Venezuela. By the middle of July we had come to the conclusion that, failing redress, we might be obliged to resort to force. The first definite proposal for co-operation between the two Powers arose out of a communication by the German Ambassador, to which reference is made in Lord Lansdowne's despatch of July 23rd, No. 109 of the Blue-book.
§ MR. NORMANI beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty if he can state the approximate cost, either total or per day, of the British naval operations against Venezuela.
§ MR. ARNOLD - FORSTERUntil the accounts of the ships engaged in these operations have been received and examined it is impossible to say whether any, and, if so, what expenditure has been incurred over and above the normal expense of maintaining the squadron on the North America Station; but it is not anticipated that the additional expense will be large.