HC Deb 04 April 1882 vol 268 cc670-1
SIR R. ASSHETON CROSS

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, If he will lay before Parliament the Despatch sent by the Government of the United States to Her Majesty's Government, or communicated by the Minister of the United States to Her Majesty's Government, relative to the convicted prisoner Lamson, and the answer of Her Majesty's Government there to? The right hon. Gentleman said, perhaps the House would allow him to make a short explanation in regard to the Question. He wished expressly to exclude the Memorial itself and the statement of facts, which the Home Secretary stated yesterday was for himself and not for the House. He also desired to say that he made this inquiry in no spirit of hostility to the Government, but in order to strengthen their hands, and in order that the country might have an assurance that there had been no attempt on the part of any foreign Power to interfere with the administration of our Municipal Laws.

SIR CHARLES W. DILKE

I am glad the right hon. Gentleman has made the explanation, for, in the absence of my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department, I was about to say that if the right hon. Gentleman's Question referred to the same Papers as those referred to by the hon. Baronet the Member for South Warwickshire (Sir Eardley Wilmot) yesterday, I could only have repeated the reply of my right hon. and learned Friend, that to lay on the Table Papers with respect to the exercise of mercy by the Crown would, in his opinion, make it absolutely impossible that that prerogative should be exercised. If, however, as I suppose, the right hon. Member refers to the formal Correspondence with the United States Minister, I may state that the Foreign Office will have no objection to lay it ultimately before Parliament.

SIR R. ASSHETON CROSS

Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman the Secretary of State for the Home Department lay it on the Table himself, or shall I move for it?

SIR CHARLES W. DILKE

He will lay it on the Table himself, but not immediately.