§ MR. BRAMSDONI beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any subsidy is paid to the African Steamship Company by the British Government; and, if so, whether any steps were taken to ascertain whether 1828 this company were directly benefiting by the Congo Free State's rubbers traffic before such subsidy was granted, having in view the disapproval which His Majesty's Government have frequently expressed with regard to the method by which the Congo State is being exploited.
§ CAPTAIN NORTON (Newington, W.)My right hon. friend has asked me to answer this on behalf of the Postmaster-General. Payments are made to the company for the conveyance of mails, but not in the form of a subsidy. The Answer to the second part of the Question is in the negative.