quated and obsolete document, more | the offence of conspiracy to assassinate particularly described at page 12 of the Sovereigns. In 1876, even Belgium, Report. It would also include all points which was one of the freest countries in connected with the printing, storage, and the world, declared that an attack on or publication of Acts of Parliament, Orders murder of any Sovereign or of any in Council, and Parliamentary Papers member of his family was without the which required consideration. The Com- pale of the right of asylum. His attenmittee would further inquire in what tion was drawn to a meeting held in this manner the many reforms and econo- City, on the 16th of April, at the rooms mies recently introduced and proposed of the Slavonic Club, Hampstead Street, in Her Majesty's Stationery Office might Fitzroy Square, which was attended by best be supplemented and carried out. persons of all nationalities, when it was The Report was a singularly concise and proposed and carried-"That this meetsatisfactory document, and would well ing expresses its profound sympathy repay the perusal of all interested in with the martyrs of liberty hanged at the subject. He begged to give Notice St. Petersburg; " and it was addedthat on that day week he would move "The present Czar must not think that on behalf of Her Majesty's Government he would reign long if he did as his for the appointment of the Committee father had done." He was perfectly in question. aware of the difficulty the Government had to deal with in this matter; but though Englishmen had a right to pride themselves s on the fact that England afforded a safe asylum for political refugees from all nations, still, when such a Chamber as that of Belgium had taken measures to provide against the abuse of the right of asylum, we ought not to neglect co-operating with other countries in the endeavour to exclude conspirators from our midst, and those who did not hesitate to instigate to murder. He trusted, therefore, that Government would not hesitate to give a favourable reply to any representation which might be made to them on the subject by foreign Powers.

INTERNATIONAL LAW-RIGHT OF ASYLUM FOR POLITICAL OFFENDERS.

No

QUESTION. OBSERVATIONS. LORD LAMINGTON asked Her Majesty's Government, Whether the report is true that certain Foreign Powers had made representations to them respecting the right of asylum for political of fenders in this country; and, if so, whether the correspondence will be laid on the Table? He attached considerable importance to the report, because early in April the German Parliament all but unanimously passed a Resolution advocating International Treaties for the prosecution and extradition of persons EARL GRANVILLE: My Lords, I guilty of attacks against the Chiefs of cannot help thinking that the noble States. It was pointed out that the Lord has spoken under some misappreattempts of the Nihilists and other poli-hension of the facts of the case. tical refugees were often directed not only against one, but against all Governments, and therefore the action taken should be of an international character. Instigation to these crimes was to be regarded as conspiring, and the nationality of the offender was to make no difference in the application of the law. To provoke to murder was more wicked than to murder, and to tempt more devilish than to fall. Their Lordships would agree with him that the feeling abroad was almost universal that there should not be any right of asylum in the case of political murderers, or would-be murderers. In Austria it was proposed recently in the Reichstag that à Treaty should be negotiated with other Governments to extradite foreigners guilty of

representation has been made to Her Majesty's Government in regard to the right of asylum for political offenders. This question has been repeatedly raised, and the decision of this country is now so well known abroad that it is not likely that any representations will be made again. In 1852 I held the Seals of the Foreign Office only for two months; but during that short time it was my duty to issue a Circular in answer to strong representations from all the Great Powers on this subject. In that Circular principles were laid down on which the right of asylum to political offenders was granted. First, it was laid down that foreigners had a right to be admitted and to reside in this country; secondly, being here, that they had a right to

having been sent to Count Walewski to vindicate the state of our laws. A year or two later that improvement in the law was agreed to without a single dissentient voice in a clause of another Bill. I only mention this to point out how exceedingly jealous the feeling of this country has been, and how strong I believe it will continue to be, in case of any notion of foreign interference with regard to our own domestic legislation. I have said that no representation has been made this year with re

the protection of our laws, but at the "How am I to act with regard to the same time they were amenable to them; despatch? I think I had better not and, thirdly, that the Government had answer it at all." Lord Palmerston no power to send them away from said "I think that will be the best the country except under the condi- way." And in that the whole of the tions of Extradition Treaties. That Cir- Cabinet acquiesced without saying a 'cular went on, on the other hand, to de- word. The Bill was introduced and nounce in very strong terms the flagrant read a first time without comment; but abuse of the hospitality given to fo- on the second reading was opposed not reigners in attempting to incite insur- only by Mr. Milner Gibson, Mr. Cobden, rection in the countries they belonged and Mr. Bright, but by Mr. Disraeli, Mr. to. It was formally stated that Her Gladstone, and Lord John Russell, and Majesty's Government would exercise the result was that they obtained a maall legal powers at their command to jority, and the Government of Lord prevent such attempts being made. Palmerston was destroyed and a ConThat Circular was very much criticized servative Government was formed. The in many parts of the Continent; but, ground the majority took in opposing I believe, it was universally acknow- the Bill was not objection to the imledged in this country to be a sound ex-provement of the law, but to no answer position of the national doctrine on the subject. Ten years ago, when it happened that I was again at the Foreign Office, I had a similar representation from the Spanish Government. I made an answer, and in so doing put into a more condensed form the same statement and phrases. My despatch was presented to Parliament as the Circular had been, and I think, if I am not mistaken, there was no one person, either in this House or the other House of Parliament, to call it in question, excepting my noble Friend (Lord Laming-gard to the right of asylum. I am glad ton). I might further allude to another circumstance that no doubt all remember -namely, what occurred at the time of the Orsini attempt on the life of the late Emperor of the French. Count Walewski wrote a strong letter at that time, not discreetly worded, reflecting on the state of our law in relation to the conduct of refugees in this country. Lord Palmerston's Government, having considered the subject, came to the conclusion that there was something in our laws which required amendment, and prepared a Bill by which the crime of conspiring to murder or inciting to murder, whether the murder was to be in this or in any foreign country, should be a felony, and not a misdemeanour, as it then was. Upon that occasion the matter was very carefully considered in the Cabinet. As it is so long ago, I may mention that I remember hours being spent in discussing the Bill and the prudence of presenting it to Parliament at that time As we were about to separate, the despatch of Count Walewski was referred to, and Lord Clarendon said

Earl Granville

to repeat that that is the case. What has happened is this. The Russian Government applied to Her Majesty's Government, with the approval of the Government of Germany, to join a Conference to consider what practical measures should be adopted in order to prevent criminal efforts on the part of certain associations, but guarded herself against any interference with our internal laws. I do not think, my Lords, it is surprising, after the frightful catastrophe of the murder of the late Emperor, that Russia should have desired, among other means of dealing with Nihilism, to seek the co-operation of other Powers. It is certainly no feeling of sympathy with Nihilism that has induced Her Majesty's Government to think it would not be advantageous to join such a Conference. If Nihilism means, as it seems to do, a general war against the laws and institutions of organized societies, not by appeal to opinion, but by murder and other crimes, it is the duty and the interest of this country to oppose and to punish it

by all the legal means in our power. I divided into five parts, of which the first To go beyond those legal means is im- (Tunis No. 1) contains the Corresponpossible; but we believe those means dence previous to this year. Tunis are sufficient for the purpose. It seemed No. 2 will contain the more recent Corto us that to join the Conference would respondence up to May 7. No. 3 will not have led to any practical results, contain some important Despatches but would have had a contrary effect as written within the last few days, which to the objects proposed. In no country will be given separately. No. 4 will has the national indignation against contain complete Correspondence up to such crimes been more strongly shown date; and No. 5, that relating to the both in and out of Parliament than in Enfida case. England; but I am convinced that to accept the Conference would not have been approved by Parliament or by the nation. But this refusal only makes it more incumbent upon us to exert all legal powers to prevent acts prejudicial to foreign and friendly Governments, more especially with regard to murders, whether such murders or attempts to murder are directed against private individuals, or against Sovereigns and Chiefs of States.

VETERINARY SURGEONS BILL [H.L.]

A Bill to amend the Law relating to Veterinary Surgeons-Was presented by The Lord ABERDARE; read 1a. (No. 87.)

House adjourned at Six o'clock, till
To-morrow, half past
Ten o'clock.

HOUSE OF COMMONS,

Thursday, 19th May, 1881.

MINUTES.]-SELECT COMMITTEE

ISLANDS OF THE WESTERN PACIFIC-
MURDERS OF BRITISH SUBJECTS.

SIR JOHN HAY asked the Under

Secretary of State for the Colonies, If he can state the number of British subjects murdered since the 1st of January 1880, including the officers and crews of the "Ripple," "Esperanza," "Lolia," Mystery," "Borealis," "Dauntless," "Annie Brooks," and H.M.S. "Sandfly," in the Pacific, and how many of the murderers have been tried at Levuka or elsewhere?

66

MR. GRANT DUFF: Sir, at least 40 British subjects have been murdered, to say nothing of Chinese and others not British subjects, though sailing under the British flag, and very probably more, for I fear that even the long list of ships given by the right hon. and gallant Gentleman is not exhaustive. Not one of the murderers concerned in these outrages either was or could have been tried at Levuka or anywhere else by any British authority, even if he could have been found. The High ComReport-missioner of the Western Pacific has merely jurisdiction over British subjects. The only punishment that could be inflicted in these seas on savages who ar not British subjects is by acts of war, and with acts of war the Department which I have the honour to represent has nothing directly to do. The repres sion of such acts as those to which the Question refers belongs to the Admiralty.

Kitchen and Refreshment Rooms (House of
Commons) [No. 234].
PRIVATE BILL (by Order)-Considered as amended
-Kingston-upon-Hull Corporation (Loans,

&c.).

PUBLIC BILLS-Ordered-First Reading-Church
Patronage (No. 2) * [175].

Second Reading-Land Law (Ireland) [135)
[Fighth Night]; Solicitors' Remuneration
[100].

Committee Report - Bankruptcy and Cessio (Scotland) (81-174].

Third Reading-Local Government Provisional
Orders (Poor Law) (No.2) * [139], and passed. PEACE PRESERVATION (IRELAND) ACT,

QUESTIONS.

AFFAIRS OF TUNIS-THE PAPERS.

SIR CHARLES W. DILKE: Sir, I would ask leave to explain that in order to avoid delay, the Correspondence relating to the affairs of Tunis has been

1881-GUN LICENCES.

COLONEL COLTHURST asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether his attention has been called to the alleged refusal by a magistrate (Mr. R. Pratt) attending Ballincollig, county Cork, Petty Sessions, to grant certificates for licences to keep a gun to several respectable far

mers of the locality, stating that he would not give certificates to any Land Leaguers or persons who attended Land League meetings; whether the said magistrate did not refuse a certificate to the parish priest; and, what steps will the Government take so as to enable the persons thus unjustly treated to obtain a re-consideration of their case by some other magistrate than Mr. Pratt ?

MR. W. E. FORSTER, in reply, said, he had received a letter from the magistrate referred to, in which he stated that he did not refuse a certificate to the parish priest, nor did he refuse certificates to respectable farmers. As to the last paragraph of the Question, the Government could not interfere with the magistrates in the exercise of their discretion as to the granting of certificates.

SIR CHARLES W. DILKE: Sir, I regret to say I can give no information on this subject. We have no informa-gers, 251 convalescents had been retion whatever at the Foreign Office.

moved there in the short space of one week, to the great relief of the Metropolitan hospitals. Negotiations were in progress with the view of obtaining additional accommodation for patients; but the matter was one of difficulty, owing to the proceedings taken in some cases and threatened in others, for closing some hospitals, and preventing the opening of new ones.

MR. SCLATER BOOTH asked whe ther the Government would undertake to propose legislation with a view of clothing the Local Government Board with power to carry out the objects of the Act of 1856?

MR. DODSON said, he would like very much to hear from his right hon. Friend, or some other person, advice as to what were the requisite powers.

STATE OF IRELAND-SKULL BOARD
OF GUARDIANS.

MR. HEALY asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether his attention has been called to the following Resolution adopted by the Skull (county Cork) Board of Guar

MR. BURT asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether, with reference to the alleged slave driving and cruelty practised on the labourers of Galway, his attention has been called to a letter in the "Newcastle Chronicle" of the 12th instant, written by Mr. Patterson, one of the miners' agents who recently visited that part of Ireland; whether he has seen that Mr. Patterson reiterates his previous statements, and says he is prepared to prove them; and, whether he will order a thorough investigation to be made into this subject to ascertain what are the facts?

MR. HEALY asked the Postmaster General, Whether, as the Irish Courts now frequently allows writs to be served by postmen instead of by bailiffs as formerly, any complaints have been received from rural postmen in Ireland at having to deliver registered letters known to contain writs; and, whether, in view of the known disfavour with which persons threatened under those writs with eviction regard their service, the Government think it necessary to send a sufficient force of police to accompany the writ-serving postmen in future?

MR. FAWCETT, in reply, said, no complaints on the subject had been received. As to the latter part of the Question, he had to remark that there was nothing in a letter containing a writ to show that it did contain a writ.