§ MR. ARTHUR LEEI beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether there is any provision in the Estimates for the cost of entertaining the Colonial Ministers attending the recent Conference; and, if so, on which Vote and under which subhead is such provision shown.
§ MR. CHURCHILLProvision of £6,000 is made in the Estimates for 1907–8, Class II., Vote 6, Colonial Office, Sub-head D, Colonial Conference, "Expenses in connection with the Conference to be hold in London in 1907 with the Premiers of the self-governing Colonies." It is understood that this Vote, which includes all the expenses of the Conference, will be somewhat exceeded.
§ MR. ARTHUR LEEAre we to understand that the whole cost of the official entertainment of the Colonial Premiers will be charged on the Estimates, and, if so, were not the Colonial Premiers the guests of the nation and not of the Government?
§ MR. CHURCHILLThe whole cost of the official entertainment of the Colonial Ministers will be charged on the Estimates. The Colonial Ministers have always hitherto been entertained at the expense of the nation. The right hon Gentleman the Member for West Birmingham, in sending out the invitation in January, 1897, specially invited them to be "the guests of His Majesty's Government." That invitation was repeated in the same form on a subsequent occasion, and it is perfectly correct. The official description has always been as "the guests of His Majesty's Government."
§ MR. ARTHUR LEEAre we to understand that His Majesty's Government in this particular are representing the nation?
§ MR. CHURCHILLI am much surprised to hear a member of the Constitutional Party suggesting that the Ministers of the day, holding office under the Crown, 1636 have not a right to speak in the name of the nation.
§ MR. MOORE (Armagh, N.)Is the position this, that the Colonial Premiers have been the guests of the Government, but that their entertainment is to be paid for by the nation?
§ [No Answer was returned.]