Mr. HOARE asked whether the Reverend Mr. Bowskill, at the request of the Portuguese authorities, risked his life in going out to meet the rebel leaders who were attacking San Salvador; and whether Mr. Bowskill demanded that before doing so the request should be made in writing?

Mr. ACLAND: We have received copies of letters written by Mr. Bowskill in December, extracts from which have appeared in the Press. It would appear from them that the statements in the hon. Member's question are

correct.

Mr. HOARE: Is the statement in The Times to-day correct, that this dispute had no connection with the administration of the labour regulations?

Mr. ACLAND: We are not informed about that.

Mr. HOARE asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the British Consul-General at Boma is within easy reach of San Salvador, the post at which the Rev. Mr. Bowskill is under arrest; and, if so, will he consider the advisability of telegraphing instructions, either to the ConsulGeneral at Boma or to the Vice-Consul at Leopoldville, to proceed at once to San Salvador to institute a full inquiry?

Mr. ACLAND: His Majesty's Consul at Loanda has been instructed to ascertain as quickly as possible the grounds of Mr. Bowskill's arrest, and the causes leading to it. He is also to inquire as to Mr. Bowskill's whereabouts. His Majesty's Minister at Lisbon has been instructed to inform the Portuguese Government of the serious impression which will be created by the arrest, and to ask them to ascertain and inform him of the facts, and, pending an inquiry, to have Mr. Bowskill released. I have also asked the Portuguese Government to afford facilities to the Acting British Consul at Boma, who has been instructed to proceed at once to make inquiries on the spot into the circumstances of the arrest, and furnish a full report. I have just heard from Lisbon that instructions have been sent to afford all facilities and every assistance to the British Consul.

We have to-day received a telegram from His Majesty's Consul at Loanda, stating that at the telegraphic request of the head of the mission at Matadi, on February 25, he informed the Governor-General, who immediately telegraphed through the Administration at Noqui to the Governor of the Portuguese Congo, who is on his way to San Salvador, for an immediate explanation of the arrest with instructions to liberate Mr. Bowskill immediately unless there were strict legal reasons for his detention, in which case the entire responsibility for the detention would be on the Governor of the Congo. Mr. Hall Hall adds that a reply is expected about March 4, owing to communications with San Salvador being interrupted.

Sir J. D. REES: Are not the good offices of the British Foreign Office in a case like this conditional upon the abstention of the reverend gentleman from interference in Portuguese politics?

Mr. ACLAND: The good offices of the British Foreign Office are always at the disposal of any British subject who is arrested until we are assured that the arrest is in strict accordance with law.

Mr. HOARE: Is it a fact that the only interference which is suggested was at the request of the Portuguese Government?

Mr. ACLAND: We do not yet know the circumstances of the arrest. We know what happened in December fully from letters which have been received, but our difficulty now is to find out the circumstances of the recent arrest.

March 3.

Mr. SWIFT MACNEILL asked whether, having regard to the arrest of the Rev. Mr. Bowskill in Portuguese West Africa, the information in possession of His Majesty's Government is that when the rebels in Portuguese West Africa attacked San Salvador the head Portuguese official fled and hid himself in Mr. Bowskill's bathroom?

Sir E. GREY: It would appear from the letters written by Mr. Bowskill and communicated to the Foreign Office that on the occasion of the attack on San Salvador a Portuguese official did take refuge in Mr. Bowskill's sitting-room.

Mr. SWIFT MACNEILL: And is this the official, who so saved his life, the man who has placed Mr. Bowskill under arrest ?

Sir E. GREY: I am not sure of that. The information which my hon. friend the Under-Secretary gave to the House yesterday was that we were expecting information on March 4. Inquiries are being made with all speed.

March 5.

Mr. FERENS asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, according to information in possession of His Majesty's Government, the Portuguese official responsible for causing the rebellion by illegal practices was merely dismissed, whilst the Reverend Mr. Bowskill, who secured the withdrawal of forces and prevented bloodshed, was arrested?

The SECRETARY of State for Foreign Affairs (Sir Edward Grey) : As a result of the disturbances in San Salvador in December last the Portuguese Secretary of the Administration of Portuguese Congo was dismissed. I am not yet aware of the circumstances in which Mr. Bowskill was recently arrested, or what was the nature of the arrest.

Mr. HOARE asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any further information with reference to the arrest of the Rev. Mr. Bowskill?

Sir E. GREY: The situation is as follows: The Acting British Consul at Boma has been sent to the spot, and is presumably there now. The British Consul at Loanda is in communication with the Portuguese GovernorGeneral. The Portuguese Governor-General has sent instructions to the Portuguese Governor at San Salvador that Mr. Bowskill is to be released if possible, and that the Governor will be held responsible if he is detained. The Governor-General had expected to receive a reply yesterday, but it is supposed that the telegraph has been cut by natives, and I have not yet received the information expected from him.

Mr. JAMES HOPE: On what charge was he arrested?

Sir E. GREY: I do not know, and I am not sure that the Portuguese Government themselves are even certain about the nature of the arrest and whether he is really arrested on a charge or simply detained. I have sent the Acting-Consul from Boma to the spot, and the British Consul at Loanda is in communication with the Portuguese Governor-General to get this information, as I want to get to the bottom of it as soon as possible.

Mr. HOARE: Is there telegraphic communication between the Consul at Boma and the Foreign Office, or has it been cut?

Sir E. GREY: There would be from Boma, which is two days' journey from San Salvador, to which the Acting-Consul has gone from Boma, and until he returns or sends some one back, he cannot actually telegraph from the spot.

March 9.

Mr. HOARE asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any further information with reference to the arrest of the Rev. Mr. Bowskill?

Mr. ACLAND: In a telegram dated from Boma, March 6, the Acting British Consul reports that Mr. Bowskill, who was at San Salvador, to which place the Acting Consul could not proceed owing to the rebellion, would be released on the arrival of the Governor, who was on his way to that place with soldiers. Mr. Bell adds that the Mission was not considered to be in danger.

Mr. HOARE: Is telegraphic communication now in existence between San Salvador and this country?

Mr. ACLAND: No.

Sir J. D. REES: Is there any truth in the statement that Mr. Bowskill has been released?

Mr. ACLAND: Not to our knowledge.

March 10.

Sir J. D. REES asked whether arrangements have been made for the release of Mr. Bowskill?

Sir E. GREY: A telegram was received last night from His Majesty's Consul at Loanda reporting that the Governor-General had just received a telegram from the Governor of the Congo in which he stated that he had arrived at San Salvador on February 24, having been attacked three times on the way. On arrival he had found the head of the English Mission and three catechists prisoners. He had liberated the former immediately on parole pending inquiry. There were 600 refugees inside the fortress; the personnel of the English Mission alone had refused to enter. The insurgents had attacked the fortress on all sides on the 25th, as well as before the arrival of the Governor, but had been repulsed each time; on the second occasion with heavy loss. The Governor-General stated that he was very pleased to know that no British missionary had in any way suffered on account of the rebellion. The Acting British Consul at Boma, who, as stated in answer to a question yesterday, was prevented from going to San Salvador by the rebellion, has been instructed to proceed there as soon as he can safely do so, to see Mr. Bowskill, and to report fully on all the circumstances.

Mr. HOARE: Does the right hon. gentleman know at all the charge upon which Mr. Bowskill was arrested?

Sir E. GREY: No. I do not know the charge; that is what I want to find out. But I understand from this telegram that he is now liberated. I want to know all the circumstances-why he was arrested, the nature of the arrest, and so forth; we cannot be content until we know.

March 12.

Mr. HOARE asked the Secretary for Foreign Affairs whether the news was correct that the Rev. Mr. Bowskill was to be tried by court-martial by the Portuguese military officials at San Salvador; whether the British Consul would be present at the trial, and if not, whether Sir E. Grey would make representations with the object of having the trial transferred to a place at which the British Consul could be present.

Sir E. GREY: Shortly, the answer to all the hon. member's questions

is in the affirmative, but I would say that, having specifically received the information which the hon. member has put in the question, I sent instructions yesterday evening to the British Minister at Lisbon to represent to the Portuguese Government that in my opinion it was absolutely essential that a British Consular officer should be present at the trial, and that the trial should take place before a properly-constituted civil tribunal, and that if possible the venue should be changed. I also urged that immediate orders to this effect should be sent to the Governor of the Congo direct, as well as to the Governor-General of Angola, as communications between Loanda and Noqui appear to be uncertain.

RHODESIA.

March II.

Mr. SWIFT MACNEILL asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps His Majesty's Government propose to take to secure the representation of the natives of Rhodesia and their rights to the land, in the event of the Rhodesian land question of ownership of Rhodesian land being brought before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council?

Mr. HARCOURT: I do not think that there is any need for special representation of the natives, but I am considering the steps to be taken for safeguarding the interests of the Crown and of the natives in the discussion of the land question in Southern Rhodesia before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.