2. Mr. EDMUND HARVEYasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether it is the intention of His Majesty's Government to publish shortly another White Book on Portuguese labour conditions in West Africa; and, if so, whether he can include in this any information with reference to the rebellion in San Salvador and Mr. Bowskill's arrest?
§ Sir E. GREYI hope to lay correspondence shortly. It would, however, delay publication if I were to include dispatches recently received, and this I am unwilling to do. I have hitherto informed the House of everything in connection with the case of Mr. Bowskill which has not appeared in the public Press and I am prepared to continue to do so.
Mr. EDMUND HARVEYWill the right hon. Gentleman consider the laying, if possible, of Supplementary Papers containing up-to-date information?
§ Sir E. GREYYes, Sir; I certainly will do that as soon as it is possible. At the present time we have not got the report from our own Consul.
§ 4. Mr. HOAREasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can now say upon what charge Mr. Bowskill has been arrested and is to be tried?
§ Sir E. GREYI cannot yet say upon what charge Mr. Bowskill was arrested. As soon as I receive any information on this matter, I will communicate it to the hon. Member and to the House.
§ Mr. HOARETo what is the delay due in obtaining this information in view of the fact that it is several weeks since the arrest of Mr. Bowskill?
§ Sir E. GREYThe delay is due to the difficulty of communication on the spot with San Salvador. We have ourselves sent our Consul, whom I hope to find has arrived there by now. We have not yet had the Report of his arrival, still less have we had the information which we expect, and which would enable us to see what are the charges framed for the trial.
§ Mr. HOAREIn view of the fact that the right hon. Gentleman has received some information from San Salvador, how does it come about that he has received no information with reference to the arrest and actual charge upon which Mr. Bowskill has to stand his trial?
§ Sir E. GREYIt is exceedingly difficult for communication to be made with San Salvador. The information referred to by the hon. Gentleman is incomplete and unsatisfactory. I am most anxious to get more information as soon as I can, and I rely on the fact of having ordered our Consul to be on the spot to make sure that nothing undesirable has happened.
§ Sir J. D. REESWill Mr. Bowskill be represented by counsel; that is a point on which his friends are very anxious?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member should give notice of that.