§ SIR JULIAN GOLDSMIDasked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, What the examination was to which Lord Beacons-field referred in the following words of his speech on Nov. 9th, 1878, viz.—
It was as a strong place of arms, for which it is admirably calculated by its geographical position and the variety of its resources that we fixed upon Cyprus, after having examined all the other islands in the east of the Mediterranean;whether any Reports or Papers were furnished to the Government upon the subject; and, whether he will lay such Reports or Papers upon the Table of the House?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERSir, the Prime Minister, in the speech referred to, was alluding to confidential communications that had been made by confidential agents of the Government into the circumstances of a very considerable number of islands in the East of the Mediterranean. It was a figure of speech to say, "all the other islands." What was meant was, all that were at all worth examining. Those confidential reports embrace a considerable number of ports and stations in the islands of the Levant; but, being of a confidential character, they cannot, of course, be laid before the House.