§ Mr. DOUGLAS HALLasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the Joint Naval Commission in the New Hebrides has recently refused to allow natives on trial the assistance of counsel; whether His Majesty's officers sitting on that Commission concurred in this decision; and, if so, whether this was upon the instruction of the Admiralty?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe Joint Naval Commission, which consists of British and French naval officers, received a request from counsel to be allowed to appear before it, and replied that, as the request created a precedent, the matter should be-referred to superior authority. No instructions were given by the Admiralty. The powers and procedure of this Commission will, I understand, be discussed at the forthcoming conference with representatives of the French Government.