§ Mr. ASHLEYasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Sultan of Morocco officially denied to the 2092 Consuls of Great Britain, France, Germany, and Spain at Fez that any barbarities had been perpetrated upon the wife of the late Governor of that city?
The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. McKinnon Wood)I have no information to this effect.
§ Mr. ASHLEYDoes not the British Vice-Consul at Fez send reports on important matters such as this to the Foreign Office?
§ Mr. ASHLEYMay I ask what the report of the British Vice-Consul was?
Mr. McKINNON WOODThe British Vice-Consul has not reported on this subject, as I said in the answer.
§ Mr. ASHLEYWill the right hon. Gentleman call for a report?
§ Mr. ASHLEYasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, owing to the persistent efforts of His Majesty's Consul at Fez, the wife of the governor of that city was, after weeks of delay, eventually produced and, having been examined by two English ladies of the Fez medical mission, was found to bear evident and in some cases unhealed traces of torture; and, if so, what notice he intends to take of the Sultan's barbarous practices and of his untrue official assurances?
Mr. McKINNON WOODThe examination referred to by the hon. Member showed that torture had undoubtedly been inflicted. I am communicating the information which has reached me to the French Government, but otherwise I can add nothing to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Aberdeenshire on the 14th.
§ Lord BALCARRESMay I ask whether the report received from the British Consul, in which the description of this barbarity was given, contained no reference to the official interview of that Consul, together with other Consuls, with the Moroccan authorities?
Mr. McKINNON WOODI really can add nothing to the answer. I have no information as to the denial of the Sultan of Morocco, and the answer to this question shows, I think, that they did not attach very much importance to the matter.