HC Deb 23 May 1873 vol 216 cc410-2

SUPPLY—considered in Committee.

(In the Committee.)

Motion made, and Question proposed, That a sum, not exceeding £3,200,000, be granted to Her Majesty, to defray the Charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March 1874, for the amounts awarded to the Government of the United States of America under the Treaty of Washington 1871, in satisfaction of the Alabama Claims.

MR. G. BENTINCK

said, he objected to proceeding with so important a Vote at that late hour of the night, and would move that the Chairman report Progress.

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER

hoped the hon. Gentleman would not persevere in the Motion, as it was most desirable that the Vote should be taken that evening in the interests of the public service. He would arrange that on Monday Supply should cease at half-past 10, in order to take the discussion on the Report.

MR. F. S. POWELL

asked the Government to take the discussion on Monday before Supply.

SIR JAMES ELPHINSTONE

also objected to proceeding with the Vote that evening.

MR. GLADSTONE

said, it was for the national interest, in the highest sense, that when the Vote was first proposed there should be no appearance of hesitation on the part of the House of Commons in assenting to it. He should take care that hon. Members should have ample opportunity for discussing it when it came on again on Monday; and, if necessary, he would take care to arrange so that the discussion should be taken before half-past 10.

COLONEL BARTTELOT

regretted that the front Opposition benches were empty, and that it was left so often to the occupants of the back Opposition benches to look after the interests of the country. While agreeing with the right hon. Gentleman that it was not desirable to resist the Vote on the present occasion, he disclaimed on the part of the House of Commons any responsibility for the payment of the money.

SIR GEORGE JENKINSON

thought the whole transaction must be looked upon as matter of national humiliation, and contended that when the Americans refused to withdraw the Indirect Claims the honour and interest of this country demanded that we should have washed our hands of the Treaty. The Times, which was generally supposed to be the Government organ, wound up a long leading article by stating that there were good grounds for supposing that the Indirect Claims had in effect been paid, although they were nominally excluded.

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER

pointed out that, as he had said on a previous occasion, this country was bound by the Rules contained in the Treaty, but not by the observations made by the Arbitrators.

MR. G. BENTINCK

expressed his willingness to withdraw the Motion for reporting Progress if the Government would give an early opportunity for discussing the question on the Report of the Vote.

MR. GLADSTONE

said, the Report should be taken at 9 o'clock on Monday.

Motion agreed to.

House resumed.

Resolution to be reported upon _Monday next;

Committee to sit again upon Monday next.