§ MR. BAILLIE COCHRANEasked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, If he can explain why the Despatch from Lord Lisgar, which enclosed the Report of the Committee of the Privy Council of the Dominion, expressing the general dissatisfaction which the publication of the Treaty of Washington had produced in Canada, which was received at the Colonial Office on the 30th August, was not answered until the 23rd of November; and, whether between those dates, a period of nearly three months, no communications passed between Her Majesty's Government and the Government of the Dominion?
§ MR. KNATCHBULL-HUGESSENSir, the Despatch in question was one in answer to Lord Kimberley's Despatch of the 17th June enclosing copies of the Treaty. As nothing could be done until the meeting of the Dominion Parliament in April, it was thought advisable to give time for further consideration of the subject in Canada, and therefore no immediate rejoinder was sent. With regard to the second Question, I would state that as we were anxious not to delay producing the Correspondence, we ascertained by telegraph what Papers the Canadian Government had presented to their Parliament, and we then presented the same Papers, which contain all the essential documents. There are three or four Despatches of minor importance, two of which passed between the dates mentioned by my hon. Friend, and which we have no objection to produce, and also some Correspondence with Prince Edward's Island and Newfoundland.