§ Mr. DILLONasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Consuls of France, Spain, and England had presented a joint remonstrance to the Sultan of Morocco against the cruel treatment of prisoners of war; and, if so, how he justified this interference in the internal affairs of a foreign State?
§ Sir E. GREYThe British representative at Tangier has joined those of all the other Treaty Powers in addressing to the Sultan a collective Note asking for an assurance that mutilation of prisoners should not be repeated. The desired assurance has been obtained. The circumstances are, I believe, without parallel elsewhere where there are foreign representatives, and the action of the Powers does not appear to me to stand in need of any justification.
§ Mr. DILLONCan the right hon. Gentleman explain why the British Government consider it to be their duty to interfere in the internal affairs of a foreign friendly Power like that of Morocco while taking no notice of the internal affairs of Russia?
§ Sir E. GREYBecause there is no parallel between the two cases.
§ Mr. MacNEILLIs it because Morocco is weak and Russia is strong?
§ Mr. DILLONHas the right hon. Gentleman's attention been called to the fact that details are published on high authority that atrocities are quite as great in Russian prisons as in Morocco?
§ Sir E. GREYI entirely deny that anything corresponding to what has taken place in Morocco has taken place in any European country.
§ Mr. REESIs the high authority to whom the hon. Member for East Mayo referred a man who was himself exiled from Russia for unlawful acts?