§ 2. Mr. KINGasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, whether he can now make a further statement about the treatment of Mr. W. S. Hughes by the Government of Columbia.
§ Sir E. GREYThe Columbian Government state that they are unable to take action either in abandoning or accelerating the trial. Instead of dealing with this matter as a case of simple assault, the Colombian Court has opened a criminal case against Mr. Hughes which cannot be decided upon before March. As the alleged assault took place in February last, the case should have been dealt with long ago, and I am making a further communication to the Colombian Government on the subject.