§ MR. J. G. HUBBARDasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether this Country has given any reply to the proposal that it should be represented at the International Bi-Metallic Conference to be held at Paris, under the auspices of France and the United States; if a reply has been sent, whether it is so expressed as to exclude any doubt of its being the determination of this Country to maintain its present standard of value; and, whether he will lay upon the Table any Correspondence which has passed upon the subject?
SIR CHARLES W. DUKESir, Her Majesty's Government have informed the Governments of France and the United States that they could not consent to discuss the principles of a double standard, and that unless the invitations were so worded as to leave to each Power entire liberty of discussion Her Majesty's Government must decline to be represented at the Conference. The Government of India are willing to send a delegate, who would not, however, be authorized to vote on any question of the adoption of the bi-metallic system; but the Secretary of State for India will be prepared to consider carefully any measures calculated to promote the re-establishment of the value of silver. The question of the separate representation of certain Colonies is at present under consideration. Papers on 879 the subject will shortly be laid on the Table.