MR. MAC IVERasked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether facilities will be afforded for considering the Motion of the honourable Member for Paisley, in reference to the French Commercial Treaty, before any such Treaty is concluded; or, in any circumstances, if he will be good enough to give the House a definite assurance that Her Majesty's Government will not enter into any commercial arrangement binding this Country for a term of years without first giving the House an opportunity of expressing its opinion on the subject?
MR. GLADSTONESir, the hon. Member will not be surprised when I say that it is impossible for me—or, indeed, for any Government—to give a pledge upon this subject in the terms which he has laid down. The House might have 1313 been prorogued in the month of August, and in the month of September we might have had an advantageous opportunity which might not again occur. What I wish to do, in substance, is to give to the hon. Member and the House every reasonable assurance; and I therefore say that my opinion is that, in conducting any negotiations on this subject, we shall undoubtedly have to avail ourselves of the assistance of the commercial community; and, that being so, I have not the least doubt that the general bearings of all proceedings, and of all negotiations, will be quite sufficiently known to all those who are directly interested, and will enable them to put us in possession of public opinion. I have no fear, therefore, of our being obliged to take any steps as to which there will be any serious doubt as to the judgment of Parliament or the commercial world.