§ MR. GREGORYsaid, he would beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury, What are the intentions of Her Majesty's Government as to renewing Postal Communication between Galway and America?
§ VISCOUNT PALMERSTONsaid, that the House was aware that the Contract had been put an end to. The Report of the Committee who considered the subject had been circulated, and was in the hands of Members; but the Evidence taken by the Committee was not yet printed, and until the Government had an opportunity of considering not only the Report but the Evidence also, he was not in a condition to state what might be the intentions of the Government with respect to the future. He had, however, no objection to repeat what he had stated on a former occasion, that it appeared to him, generally speaking, to be advantageous for the commercial interests of the United Kingdom at large to have the most rapid communication possible with Newfoundland, whence there was telegraphic communication with the continent of America. The question would naturally be what point of the United Kingdom was best adapted for that communication? He thought that, geographically considered, Ireland was, and that the most suitable part of Ireland was the west coast. Perhaps the hon. Member would not object if he added that Galway, being the most central point of the west of Ireland for communication by railway with any part of the United Kingdom, appeared to him (Viscount Palmerston) prima facie to be the most desirable place for the purpose. But all these were matters which the Government had to consider, and he could only say, in the absence of the evidence, that he was not able to intimate any specific intention on the part of the Government.
§ COLONEL FRENCHsaid, he would beg to ask if the noble Lord would undertake to give an answer to the Question which had been put to him before the close of the Session?
§ VISCOUNT PALMERSTONsaid, he could not undertake to do that, as that the matter was one of considerable importance.