§ LORD ROBERT MONTAGUasked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, If he would explain why a Despatch of instructions, dated June 8th, from Lord Salisbury to Lord Odo Russell, and laid before Parliament was written in contradiction to the secret Agreement between Lord Salisbury and Count Schouvaloff, dated May 30th, and which was surreptitiously obtained from the Foreign Office?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERSir, the only answer that I can really make to the noble Lord's Question is that I dispute the fact. The Question is very like that put by King Charles II. to the Royal Society, as to how a certain thing was to be explained, and the answer was that "I deny its existence." I entirely deny that there is any contradiction between the despatch of Lord Salisbury, of June 8th, to Lord Odo Russell, and the secret Agreement between Lord Salisbury and Count Schouvaloff of the 30th May last.
§ LORD ROBERT MONTAGUDoes the right hon. Gentleman deny the contradiction between the two propositions; first, that England—["Order, order!"]
§ MR. SPEAKERI must remind the noble Lord that he is out of Order in putting a Question of an argumentative character. The noble Lord has put his Question, and is not entitled to enter on matters of debate. He should give Notice in a formal manner, if he desires to bring this matter before the House.
§ LORD ROBERT MONTAGUI am only referring to a Question I asked the other day. I want to know, whether there is not a contradiction between the Agreement which said the Government would not contest the possession by Russia of Kars and Ardahan and Batoum, and the instructions to Lord Odo Russell telling him to contest their possession by Russia?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERI must remind the noble Lord that what he calls a secret Agreement has never been produced or laid upon the Table of the House by Her Majesty's Government; and the reason they give for not producing it is that, taken by itself, it does not convey an accurate idea of their policy. I again repeat, what I said before, that there is no contradiction between the despatch to Lord Odo Russell and the policy of Her Majesty's Government as expressed in their confidential communications with the Russian Government.