§ MR. BAILLIE COCHRANEasked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether he will lay upon the Table all the Correspondence between the Home Government and the Dominion of Canada and Nova Scotia on the subject of the Washington Treaty, since the date of its signature; and whether, as this Correspondence is essential to enable the House to form a just opinion as to the proposed guaranteed Canadian Loan, these Papers will be laid upon the Table before the holidays? He also desired to put another Question bearing upon the same subject, and having special reference to the Papers which have been delivered. He found from the Papers laid on the Table that a Despatch from the Committee of the Privy Council of Canada was received by Lord Kimberley on the 30th August, which denounced in the strongest terms the Washington Treaty, and that the Despatch was not acknowledged by the Colonial Office until the 23rd of November, so that three months elapsed between the receipt of the Despatch and its acknowledgement. He wished to ask, Whether there was a mistake as to the date; and, if not, whether the hon. Gentleman will lay on the Table any Despatch received between the 30th of August and the 23rd of November?
§ MR. KNATCHBULL-HUGESSENSir, if my hon. Friend will refer to the Correspondence already presented, he will see that it is not confined to the question of the Loan, but goes into the whole subject of the Treaty. We have no further Correspondence with the Dominion Government to present as to the Treaty. Neither is there any Correspondence with Nova Scotia, as since the Confederation we have no direct communication with any of the Provinces which form that Confederation, but only with the Government of the Dominion. With regard to the second 604 Question, it is not out of any personal disrespect to my hon. Friend, but out of regard to the established practice and usage of this House, that I must decline to answer a Question upon so important a point without the ordinary Notice.