HC Deb 06 February 1913 vol 48 cc6-8
5. Mr. MORRELL

asked whether the right hon. Gentleman can give any further information as to the case of Mr. Moore, who was recently arrested and imprisoned by the Governor of Katanga on a charge of libel; whether Mr. Moore has appealed against the sentence and, if so, with what result; what reports have been obtained as to the conditions of imprisonment and the state of the prisoner's health; and whether His Majesty's Minister at Brussels has yet received a reply to his request for a full inquiry?

Sir E. GREY

According to a telegram from the Acting Vice-Consul at Elizabethville, Mr. Moore was sentenced on January 29th to a fine of 1,000 francs or 40 days imprisonment, and was also fined 6,000 francs for damages with the alternative of five months' imprisonment. Mr. Moore appealed, with the result that both sentences were confirmed. Payment was refused, and Mr. Moore has in default been imprisoned, but I have not yet received any reply to my inquiries as to the conditions of imprisonment or the state of his health. His Majesty's Minister at Brussels has been informed by the Belgian Government that, from a telegram received from the Belgian authorities at Elizabethville, it appears that sentence was passed upon Mr. Moore for having published in the "Livingstone Mail" a statement that Baron Faidherbe would have been imprisoned for misappropriation ("détournement") if he had not been a Baron. A full report of the trial is being sent by mail.

Mr. MORRELL

Can my right hon. Friend say whether Mr. Moore was represented by counsel at the trial, and whether he was allowed to call witnesses?

Sir E. GREY

I have not heard that there were any irregularities at the trial. Of course, I am awaiting a full report.

Sir GILBERT PARKER

Is it not a fact that the offence for which Mr. Moore was convicted was committed in British territory and not in Belgian territory; that Mr. Moore was arrested in Belgian territory and punished for an offence committed in Rhodesia under the British flag; and will the Government take that into consideration in making their inquiry from the Belgian Government?

Sir E. GREY

What I understand, without having the full report before me, is that he was arrested in Belgian territory and he was sentenced for having published something which the Courts held to be libellous in a newspaper which circulated in Belgian territory.

Sir G. PARKER

Have the Government satisfied themselves that the Belgian Government were within their right in trying a man for an offence committed in British territory?

Sir E. GREY

I do not understand it was committed in British territory, because, as far as my information goes, it was in Belgian territory.

Sir G. PARKER

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that the paper of which Mr. Moore was the editor is published at Livingstone, in Rhodesia, in British territory, and therefore Mr. Moore has been convicted for an offence committed in British territory, if it is an offence?

Sir E. GREY

That is a legal point into which I must go when I get full information, but the contention of the Belgian authorities is that the libel was circulated in Belgian territory.

Mr. MORRELL

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that all attempts to communicate with Mr. Moore by his friends have been stopped at the Congo frontier?

Sir E. GREY

I was not aware of that, and if hon. Members have any information of that kind I should be glad if they will supply me with it.

Mr. MORRELL

Is he aware that a copy of a telegram was sent to the Foreign Office yesterday—

Mr. SPEAKER

Hon. Members had better put down any further questions. The Foreign Secretary has said over and over again that he is awaiting a full report.