QUESTION IN COMMONS

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 93, 21 April 1931, Page 9

QUESTION IN COMMONS

SITUATION OUTLINED

BRITISH SUBJECTS SAFE

(British Official Wireless.) (Received 21st April, 11 a.m.) BUGBY, 20th April. Answering, in the House of Commons questions regarding 'the present situation in Madeira, the Foreign Secretary, Mr. Henderson, stated that thp rebel forces continued in occupation of the island, and the British cruiser London remained in the port of Funchal for the protection of British subjects and property. The expeditionary force recently sent from Portugal was diverted to deal /with the outbreak in .the Azores, and it was reported that the insurgents there had surrendered unconditionally. Portuguese men-of-war were cruising in the vicinity of Madeira to enforce a decree prohibiting use by foreign ships'of the island1 except for the. evacuation, of foreign nationals. The importance which the British Government attached to the safeguarding of British interests in Madeira had been strongly impressed upon the Portuguese .Government by Sir Francis Lindley, British Ambassador in Lisbon, and upon the rebels by the British Consul at • Funchal. No British subjects were reported to have been molested nor any British property damaged. A Lisbon Press telegram reports that the commander of the Portuguese expeditionary force has sent an ultimatum to the Madeira rebels, threatening a concentration of naval, military, and air forces on the island unless the rebellion is terminated immediately.