THE EARL OF ROSEBERYI rise to ask the Under Secretary of State for the 1107 Colonies, a Question of which I have given him private Notice. It refers to the report of the proceedings of the Colonial Conference which appeared in The Standard this morning. It is a very interesting and detailed account of what took place, and I shall be glad to learn, if the noble Earl thinks fit to tell me, whether it is authentic or not? In the next place, I wish to know if, in view of the somewhat premature publication, it is proposed to give us the real and actual papers with regard to what has actually taken place in the Conference? I do not know what the authenticity of The Standard's account may be; but, at any rate, it seems to me very desirable that having had four columns of the proceedings of the Colonial Conference published in that newspaper some move authoritative account should be supplied to both Houses of Parliament. I do not ask for all the somewhat spicy details published in The Standard—the interview, for instance, of the Prime Minister with the Colonial Representatives; but, we are deeply interested in the question, and, of course, we should be glad to have as much detail as possible. There is one point in connection with the account which I will ask your Lordships' permission to say a word or two about. There is a proposition with regard to a compromise with which my name is associated—that in exchange for the cession of the interests of the Government and this country in the New Hebrides, the French Government will undertake not to send convicts to the Pacific. That proposition was officially made to me, but not by me; and I wish to state most distinctly that it is the only connection I have with it, and that the idea of calling it a proposition made by mo is one which I wish most distinctly to repudiate.
THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (the Earl of ONSLOW)My Lords, the account of the proceedings at the Colonial Conference which appears in The Standard substantially represents what took place. At the same time, however, it is inaccurate in some important details, and it is so incomplete as to give a misleading impression of the conclusion arrived at as to some of the most important subjects which were discussed. I might especially refer to the subject mentioned by the noble Earl, the New Hebrides, as to 1108 which there is no report whatever of the very able speeches which were delivered by one of the Representatives of New Zealand, in favour of the proposals made by Her Majesty's Government before the Conference. I believe I am not inaccurate in saying, that there was ultimately a general disposition expressed on behalf of the delegates present to accept as satisfactory the action of Her Majesty's Government. We are most anxious to lay on the Table of both Houses of Parliament, at the earliest possible date, a full account and report of the proceedings at the Conference. Some of these are already in print, and others are in the printers' hands; but, before they can be presented, the noble Earl will understand that it "will necessarily take some short time for the different delegates to revise the reports, in order that they may be in every respect accurate. As soon as that is done, after the conclusion of the Conference, which will be early next week, Papers will be laid before Parliament giving a complete account of both the subjects and the details of the discussions at the Conference. Whether they may be spicy or not, they will be placed in the hands of your Lordships to pronounce an opinion upon.