§ MR. NEWDEGATEwished to put a question to the noble Lord, as to the returns which he had moved for on the 24th February last. They were returns relating to the change of the tariffs of foreign countries, and also including any changes affecting our customs. Eight months had now elapsed since the address for granting these returns had been agreed to. Some confusion seemed to have arisen as to the department which ought to furnish the information to the House, and he wished to ask the noble Lord whether he could afford the House any information relative to the present state of these returns, or to give any prospect of the information being afforded?
§ VISCOUNT PALMERSTONsaid, that a portion of these returns had been presented towards the close of last Session, and he knew that the other portion had been received, from time to time, at the Foreign Office. He rather thought that the question which the hon. Gentleman put, had reference more peculiarly to the question how and by whom such portion of these tariffs as were in foreign languages were to be translated? He believed that was the point. Upon that he had to state that of course it was the duty of the Foreign Office, when papers connected with the transactions of Government were laid before Parliament, to lay them before Parliament by translations, whether they were so laid by an address from the House or by command of the Crown; and there were officers quite competent to do the work properly; but this was a case quite out of 699 the usual course. The House of Commons very properly availed itself of the facilities which the Foreign Department had, by means of consuls abroad, to obtain information connected with the detailed administration of other countries. That was obtained frequently in printed books and voluminous papers. The tariffs of other countries, as they had been obtained, had been laid or would be laid upon the table. The office was limited in the extent of its establishment, and was really not capable, without materially interfering with the foreign business of the country, of providing the means for effecting these translations; and it must therefore rest with the House, he apprehended, to determine in what way these documents were to be rendered as useful as they ought to be for the purpose in view. It seemed to him quite clear that some person must be employed and especially paid for the duty of translating them; and whether the hon. Gentleman could, according to the practice of the House, move any resolution by which the House would of its own authority authorise the translation, or whether the Crown should be desired to employ persons especially for the purpose, was under the Speaker's direction.
§ MR. NEWDEGATEsaid, that the information obtained in those papers was very important. It had been granted by the Crown, and as eight months had now elapsed he thought it right to ask what prospect there was of obtaining this information, and whether the Speaker could suggest any course by which he could bring the subject more properly under the attention of Parliament?
§ MR. SPEAKERsaid, that it was very difficult for him to answer the question. It was quite clear that the House could not authorise a translation of the tariffs. The custom had been, when returns were presented by the Foreign Office, if the parties in the office would not undertake the translation of the returns, to move an address that the returns should be laid on the table, accompanied by a translation forthwith.