§ COLONEL NORTHsaid, he would beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, When the Copy of the Report made by Mr. Arbuthnot, of the Treasury, on the question of the Exchanges in Japan, promised by the late Chancellor of the Exchequer on the 27th of February last, will be laid upon the table; and to state if the arrangement, also promised, has been carried out for the crediting of all profits arising out of such Exchanges to the public account?
THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERIt is very true, Sir, that my predecessor in office did promise to lay on the table a copy of the Report made by Mr. Arbuthnot—that is to say, he intimated that there would be no objection to produce it if my hon. and gallant Friend moved for it. I may add that if my hon. and gallant Friend should now think fit to do so, I shall take care that a copy of the Report is placed on the table. In answer to the second part of his inquiry, I may state, in the first place, that he is under an erroneous impression in supposing that the right hon. Gentleman opposite made the promise which it indicates. Independent of his own assurance to the contrary, it would be clearly impossible to enter into any such arrangement, because, under the system which at present pre- 2035 vails there certainly is a loss on the Exchanges, so that there are no profits to credit to the public account.
§ COLONEL NORTHsaid, it was the noble Lord the Member for King's Lynn (Lord Stanley), and not himself, who had asked the question on the subject on a former occasion.