§ MR. ASHLEYI beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information with reference to the attack on Mr Harris's house by numerous armed natives, whether French and Spanish warships in the bay offered any assistance, and whether the Government propose, by the despatch of a warship, to extend to British subjects the protection now afforded to those of France and Spain.
§ SIR EDWARD GREYAccording to a report received from His Majesty's Charge d'Affaires at Tangier, a fight occurred between the Moorish Guards at Mr. Harris's house and a number of men of the Anjera tribe. It is not clear whether the tribesmen were the first to attack the house, or whether they were fired on from the house by the guards as they were passing it, engaged on a cattle raid. 301 Eventually the guards were reinforced and the tribesmen beaten off. It does not appear to have been necessary for any foreign troops to have been landed in connection with this incident. I understand that France and Spain are prepared to take, in an emergency, whatever provisional measures may be required till the regular police contemplated by the Algeciras Act are constituted. It is not necessary or desirable for us to do anything more, and it is not intended to send a British warship.
§ MR. ASHLEYWould it not be more satisfactory that British subjects should be protected by British ships?
§ [No Answer was returned.]