§ MR. LAYARDsaid, he understood from the public journals that a treaty with Persia had been signed at Paris, and therefore wished to be informed whether Her Majesty's Government had now any intention of laying the papers relating to the dispute with Persia on the table.
MR. VERNON SMITHsaid, he thought that his hon. Friend would admit the propriety of withholding those papers until the treaty had been ratified. There was no intention on the part of Her Majesty's Government to lay them on the table of the House at present, and, indeed, their production at the present time could not be of much service, as a dissolution of Parliament impended. His hon. Friend would have an opportunity of bringing the matter forward in the next Parliament, in which he hoped that he should have the pleasure of meeting the hon. Gentleman and discussing it with him.