§ SIR CHARLES DILKE (Gloucestershire, Forest of Dean)To ask the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the present position of the British claims arising out of the war in Samoa; whether a portion of the New Zealand claims come under the decision of King Oscar, to the effect that they were good claims against Great Britain and the United States; and what action it is proposed to take.
(Answered by Earl Percy.) The award of the King of Sweden deals only with the question of principle, Great Britain and the United States being held liable for the consequences of certain military action which was pronounced to be unwarranted. An exchange of views as to the construction to be placed on the award has taken place between the three Governments interested, and a further examination of the claims to see how far they are covered by the award, is now being made. The New Zealand claims stand upon the same footing as other claims of British subjects, and will be dealt with in the same way.