THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONI wish to put a Question to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, of which I have given him Notice, to which it might be convenient that he should reply before he makes the Motion on the Paper in his name this day. I wish to ask him, Whether the despatch promised by the Government of India in a despatch dated June 2nd, on the subject of the recent military operations in Afghanistan, and generally upon the course of political events, has been received, and will be laid on the Table of the House; and, whether, and at what time, the Government intend to make any statement with regard to it?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERSir, I am not quite sure that I referred to the despatch of the 2nd of June, to which the noble Lord directs my attention; but I am aware that Lord Cranbrook has quite recently received a very foil despatch from the Government of India, but he has not yet had time to communicate it to his Colleagues. I have seen it in his hand, and he expects in a few days to lay it on the Table of the House. As soon as that is done the Government will be perfectly prepared 66 to discuss the question—probably at the beginning of next week we shall be able to find an opportunity of doing so.