§ Mr. WEDGWOODasked (1) whether His Majesty's Government have received from Peru any information as to the arrest and prosecution of Aurelio Rodriguez, the Peruvian-Amazon Company's agent, most gravely implicated in the Putomayo murders; (2) whether His Majesty's Government can see their way to urge upon the Peruvian Government the desirability of instituting criminal proceedings against Senor Julio Caesar Arana, the founder of the firm of J. C. Arana and Brothers, on the Putomayo, whose business and agents the Peruvian-Amazon Company, Limited, took over on the strength of assurances made by him, whose responsibility for the condition of things revealed by Consul Casement's report would seem to call for very strict investigation; and (3) with reference to the Putomayo atrocities, what has happened to Victor Macedo, Jose Inocente Fonseca, Abelardo Aguero, and the other agents of the company, and leaders in the cruelties committed on the natives; and whether any steps are being taken by the Peruvian Government to prevent the escape of these criminals?
§ Sir E. GREYI have brought all the facts to the knowledge of the Peruvian Government, in the expectation that they will take the necessary action to punish criminals. I am not in a position to make any further statement at present as to the steps which they have taken.
§ Mr. WEDGWOODMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman to let us have Sir Richard Casement's report published as soon as possible?
§ Sir E. GREYI have not given any undertaking to publish the report yet. It is a matter that requires careful consideration.
§ Mr. WEDGWOODI want to know whether we can have either the punishment of the criminals in Peru or the publication of the report?
§ Sir E. GREYI said I must have further time to consider the question of the publication of the report. Questions as to whether the Peruvian Government took sufficient steps to punish the criminals and to bring about such a state of affairs in that region as will make the recurrence of things of this kind impossible are all very material points in regard to the future.