AFRICA (EAST COAST)—ANGRAPEQUENA.—QUESTION. (Hansard, 13 June 1884)

§ VISCOUNT SIDMOUTH
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether negotiations on the subject of Angra Pequena were still proceeding, and, if so, whether he could state how soon they were likely to be terminated? Seeing the First Lord of the Admiralty in his place, he wished to ask the noble Earl whether he would lay on the Table any Reports received" from the Commander-in-Chief on the South African station with regard to Angra Pequena, as he understood that it had been visited of late by that officer?

THE EARL OP KIMBERLEY
I may state, in the absence of my noble Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, that as Correspondence is still going on between Her Majesty's Government and the German Government upon this subject, it is not possible at present to make any communication with regard to the negotiations. My noble Friend the First Lord of the Admiralty (the Earl of Northbrook) has asked me to answer the Question as to the Report of the Commander in Chief on the South African Station. He desires Notice that he may look over the Correspondence, in order to see whether it could be published. If so, he will be glad to produce it.

THE EARL OF CARNARVON
said, that his noble Friend behind him had done good service in repeatedly calling attention to this subject. It was a serious one, and still more serious that the negotiations should be allowed to drag on for such a great length of time, as in that part of the world the British and the German interests touched each other very closely. His own experience of German policy had always been that it was extremely reasonable and conducted in a reasonable spirit. At the same time, the longer the matter was delayed the greater the risk of misunderstanding 238 arising. He was afraid that the change of Government at the Cape would not facilitate a solution of the question; but he thought that if his noble Friend the Foreign Secretary had seen his way to deal with the matter more promptly, and bring it to a settlement some months ago, he would probably have found it more easy as far as the German Government was concerned. He, for one, would be glad to see the question disposed of satisfactorily, and disposed of without delay.

THE EARL or KIMBERLEY
said, that the matter had been affected to a considerable extent by the change of Government at the Cape, because his noble Friend would see that it was impossible to deal with it without communication with the Cape Government. But he did not see why there should be any further unreasonable delay in dealing with the question.