3. Mr. CATHCART WASONasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he can state how many of the Great Powers are represented at the present time in Mexico City by Ambassadors, Envoys Extraordinary, Ministers Plenipo- 862 tentiary, or Consuls; if communication is still open between the city of Mexico and the outside world; approximately the number of English now in the city, men and women; and if they run serious risk of murder and outrage at the hands of one party or other in the Republic of Mexico?
§ Sir E. GREYIn reply to the first part of the hon. Member's question, I have no official information as to the number of Great Powers at present represented by diplomatic or Consular officers in Mexico-City. There are about thirty-five Foreign Powers who are represented at Mexico City, and I have not heard of any of the representatives of the Powers being withdrawn except the representative of the United States. The answer to the second part of the hon. Member's question is, to the best of my knowledge, in the affirmative. As I informed the hon. Member for Wirral on the 25th ultimo, I have no other than published statistics as to the number of British subjects in Mexico City. I have seen it stated in the Press that there are said to be some 800 British subjects in the city at present. The number probably varies from time to time according to the prospects of safety in the surrounding districts. As regards the position of British subjects in Mexico, the present conditions vary so much in different localities that it is difficult to say if they are running risk of murder and outrage throughout the Republic. His Majesty's Consular officers have been instructed to warn British subjects of their possible danger in the disturbed areas, and that having regard to local considerations they must use their discretion as to leaving the Republic. I have reason to think that they are in the main in touch with one another and with His Majesty's officers, and that dispositions have been made to provide for their safety as far as possible. As I informed the hon. Member for Wirral on the 25th ultimo, His Majesty's Minister in Mexico City has arranged, as far as possible, for the defence of British subjects there in an emergency. He has also been arranging for British subjects who wish to leave Mexico City to do so.
§ Earl WINTERTONMight I ask the right hon. Gentleman if His Majesty's Minister in Mexico City knows more or less the whereabouts of British subjects in the Republic, and whether it is not a fact that they have all at one time or another been warned by him or the British Consul that they remain in Mexico at their own risk?
§ Sir E. GREYThey have been warned some time ago that if they remained in the interior it will be at their own risk, and that they ought to withdraw to ports if in any particular locality they considered they were not safe.