§ 7. Mr. DILLONasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will state what is the latest information he has as to the situation in Southern Morocco; whether there is a British Consul at Marrakesh; if so, what reports have been received from him as to the situation in that town and neighbourhood; whether the French Consul has warned his colleagues that he cannot answer for the safety of Europeans in Marrakesh; and whether he can state the number of Europeans of French. German, and British nationality, respectively, in Marrakesh?
§ Sir E. GREYIn reply to the first three parts of the question, I would inform the hon. Member that there is a British Vice-Consul at Marrakesh, and that I have received reports of the situation there: some trouble recently arose owing to a dispute between rival Governors, but, according to my latest information, an agreement has now been affected. As regards the fourth part of the question, I am not aware that the French Vice-Consul at Marrakesh acted in the sense suggested: according to a telegram of the 20th instant, the British Vice-Consul recommended the British Colony to go to the coast, but a telegram dispatched the following day stated that, as a result of the agreement effected between rival Governors, the British Colony were staying on. I cannot state the number of French and German subjects at Marrakesh, but, so far as I know, there are only three or four British subjects in the town.
§ Mr. ASHLEYCan the right hon. Gentleman say what is the nationality of this British Vice-Consul at Marrakesh?
§ Sir E. GREYI would ask the hon. Gentleman to give notice of the question.