§ Mr. MITCHELL-THOMSON (Lanarkshire, N.W.)To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the British subject, James Koffie, of Elmina, who was reported by Vice-Consul Michell, on the 23rd March, 1907, as detailed on page 8 of Africa (No. 1, of 1908), to have been condemned, though not a soldier, by a court-martial at Lusambo, in the Congo, on the 15th July, 1905, and sentenced to a term of imprisonment, has yet been released; and whether, in consequence of statements made by him to the Vice-Consul and communicated by the latter to His Majesty's Government, in his despatch of the 23rd March, 1907, to the 873 effect that no opportunity was afforded to him after condemnation, either of communicating with the British Consul or of appealing to Boma, any representations were made by His Majesty's Government to the Government of the Congo.
§ SIR EDWARD GREYIt is believed that Koffie was released towards the end of 1907. It is understood that the attention of the Vice-Consul in whose district the incident occurred was drawn to it at the time. A Report has now been called for from him in regard to it.