§ MR. SEYMOUR FITZGERALDrose to ask Her Majesty's Government, Whether any understanding has been come to with the Government of the Republic of Guatemala with reference to the proposed road to be made from the City of Guatemala to the Atlantic coast? He was sure, seeing the responsibilities which the treaty cast upon the Government, the House would excuse him if he trespassed upon them with a few words. In 1859 a treaty was entered into between Her Majesty's Government and that of Guatemala; the object of which was to define the boundaries of the territories of the republic and of Her Majesty's dominions in that part of the world. It also contained a stipulation by which her Majesty's Government agreed to undertake the liability with the Government of Guatemala of forming a road. In the first place, he could not conceive a principle more objectionable than that this country should enter into liabilities for these kind of public improvements in another country which was quite capable of doing the work without any such assistance. The treaty, upon being brought to this country, was at once ratified by the noble Lord at the head of the Foreign Office. The noble Lord having accepted this responsibility—as he (Mr. Fitzgerald) thought somewhat hastily—it struck him that he should like to know something of the extent of the liability. He was called on to do his part under the treaty in making the road, which was 350 miles long. Major Wray, an engineer officer, was therefore sent out to investigate the matter, and he reported that the expense of making the road would be about £150,000. It appeared, also, that the Government of Guatemala was under the impression that England was to find the money for the road, 1826 and they were to find the statute labour, the result of which would be, that whilst Guatemala found the forced labour, the British Government would pay into its treasury £150,000. But it appeared that while her Majesty's Government was astonished at the magnitude of the work, and the sum it was to cost, the Government of Guatemala was also dissatisfied, because they thought that the amount (which they hoped to receive) was too small; and although it had not, he believed, been officially communicated to her Majesty's Government, the Government of Guatemala estimated the cost of the work at £300,000. Considering the present position of the finances of this country, the Chancellor of the Exchequer would probably be astonished to find a liability existing of which he knew nothing. But according to another report which had been made, the amount required to make this communication would be so large as to render it practically impossible to carry it out. Under these circumstances, he should like to know whether the Government intended to repudiate or to fulfil this bargain. Either alternative was much to be regretted. On the one hand, it was improper that obligations of this kind should be lightly incurred; and, on the other, it was a great misfortune to have to repudiate a treaty solemnly entered into. He was aware that our chargé d'affaires at Mexico had been despatched to Guatemala to endeavour to arrange this matter. He was probably still there with that object. His (Mr. Fitzgerald's) object in bringing this matter forward was to know whether the Government would fulfil the contract or repudiate an engagement under a solemn treaty.