§ MR. BOURKEinquired, Whether the Government proposed to make any statement with respect to Foreign Affairs before the end of the Session; and, also, whether they would give any information with respect to the proposed Naval Demonstration in the Adriatic? If it were inconvenient for him to answer now, he would give Notice for tomorrow.
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKE,in reply, said, his noble Friend Earl Granville intended to make a statement in "another place," in continuance of his previous statement on the subject.
§ MR. BOURKEsaid, what he meant to ask was, whether any statement would be made in this House? He knew that hon. Members on both sides of the House were very anxious that such a statement should be made. It would be more convenient probably for hon. Members to wait until they heard what the noble Lord the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs said before they determined as to what course they would take in this House.
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONsaid, his hon. Friend the Under Secretary would be fully prepared to make the same statement, if desired, in this House as was to be made by the noble Lord in "another place."
§ MR. CALLANasked, whether an opportunity would be given for discussing the statement?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONreplied that favourable opportunities would, no doubt, arise on the stages of the Appropriation Bill.
§ MR. COURTNEYasked how it was proposed to distribute the Business tomorrow? It was understood that the discussion on South African affairs would be then taken, and he wished to know how the Morning Sitting would affect that understanding?
§ MR. BERESFORD HOPEasked on what day the Report of the Burials Bill would be taken, supposing the South African discussion should make it impossible to take it to-morrow?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONtrusted that it might be possible that evening to get through not only the Irish Constabulary Vote, but the remainder of Supply; and if they were 657 successful in this, they should take the Report of Supply to-morrow at 2 o'clock. He hoped that the discussion of the policy of the Government in reference to the Transvaal and the subject of Sir Bartle Frere's supersession would both come on at this stage of the Public Business. If the discussion should be concluded at the Morning Sitting—as he hoped it might be—the Report on the Burials Bill would be taken at 9 o'clock. If they found themselves unable to carry out this arrangement, the Report on the Burials Bill would be taken at the earliest possible opportunity.
§ In reply to Captain PRICE,
§ MR. SHAW LEFEVREsaid, that he should be inclined to bring forward the Navy Estimates at any hour that night, so as to have the Report to-morrow.