§ LORD ASHLEYsaid, he would beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government to suspend further proceedings with regard to Submarine Telegraph Contracts until the Report of the Select Committee now sitting upon the Packet and Telegraphic Service is laid upon the Table of the House.
§ THE CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUERsaid, he had stated on a former occasion that it was the intention of the Government to suspend generally all proceedings with respect to Packet Contracts until the Committee should have had an opportunity of considering them; and undoubtedly the Government entertained the same intention with respect to Submarine Telegraph Contracts. The House would understand that he made that answer generally, but it was possible that circumstances might arise under which a case of exception might be created. Something must, of course, depend upon the time which the Committee might occupy in their investigations, and there was one matter—namely, the manufacture of a submarine cable—with regard to which it may be necessary for the Government to take measures before the Committee made their Report. As a general rule, however, so far as the Government could see their way, it was their intention to take no proceedings upon the subject of the Submarine Telegraph until after the Committee had prepared their Report.