MR. GLADSTONESince I gave my Notice of Motion a few minutes ago an Answer has been given to a Question put by my noble Friend (the Marquess of Hartington) which bears upon the question; and as I wish not unnecessarily to trouble the House, I am very 231 desirous to know whether I understood correctly what fell from him. I understood him, in answer to my noble Friend, not to intimate an objection on the part of the Government to the production of the Agreement between Count Schouvaloff and Lord Salisbury, but to say that application had been made for the consent of certain Powers, without whose consent the Paper could not, according to usage and rule, be produced, and that one of the Powers had declined to consent, and that, consequently, Her Majesty's Government were not responsible for withholding it. In that case, I should not think it right to make the Motion of which I gave Notice.
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERPerhaps I may say that my hon. Friend's Answer had reference not to that particular Paper, but to other Papers which, in the opinion of Her Majesty's Government, are necessary.
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERYes; but the objection does not proceed from Her Majesty's Government, but from another Government.