MR. BRUCEasked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether he can fix a day for the discussion of the Motion on the affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina?
§ MR. DISRAELIMr. Speaker, I think it will be scarcely possible, in a manner satisfactory to the House, to fix a day for a discussion on the subject to which my hon. Friend refers until we have the Papers on the Table, because we must act according to precedent in the matter, and when the Papers are on the Table the noble Lord opposite may wish, and it will be perfectly open to him, to bring the subject under the consideration of the House. Of course, under these circumstances, every independent Member on either side will defer to the claim of the noble Lord. I quite recognize that my hon. Friend has a locus standi in this question in the Notice he has previously given; and assuming, as a matter of course, that there will be a discussion on the subject—even if there may not be one which involves the opinion of the House by a formal Motion—I should, under those circumstances, recognize the claim of my hon. Friend and endeavour to meet his convenience. But until the Papers are on the Table, I think I should hardly do justice to the feelings of the House if I made any arrangement for the discussion of a question of such an important character by a private Member.