§ Mr. HUGH LAWasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has received any recent information from the British Minister at Tangier relative to the state of Moorish prisons and prisoners; and, if so, what action, if any, he proposes to take?
Mr. McKINNON WOODWe have no information later than the report which was communicated to the hon. Member in July, 1907. We shall, no doubt, receive further information from time to time, but we do not see what action His Majesty's Government can usefully take in Morocco.
§ Mr. HUGH LAWHas the Foreign Office had no information from the Consul on the spot recently regarding this matter?
§ Mr. HUGH LAWDo I understand the hon. Gentleman to say there has been no Consular despatch since July, 1907?
§ Mr. HUGH LAWalso asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has received official information showing that cruel treatment of prisoners is frequent in Moorish prisons; and whether he Is prepared favourably to consider in this connection the establishment of mixed courts?
Mr. McKINNON WOODAs I have just stated, we have no recent information with regard to Moorish prisons. His Majesty's Government are not in a position to make any change in the internal administration of Morocco outside the scope of British treaty rights, and in any case we do not see how mixed courts are to affect the treatment of Moorish subjects in Moorish prisons.