§ MR. BRIGGSasked the Secretary of State for India, Whether, having regard to the fact that we are still maintaining a gold standard in England and a silver standard in India, and that France and the United States of America desire to restore silver everywhere to its former monetary functions, and so remove the confusion created by variations in the relative value of gold and silver, which variations have been and are seriously detrimental to our commerce, especially with India, it is the intention of the Government to promote an early re-assembling of the Monetary Conference to deal with this subject; and, whether he can inform the House when that Conference is likely to re- assemble?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONSir, on the 12th of April last I was informed, through Her Majesty's Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, that the Governments of France and the United States had proposed an adjournment of the Monetary Conference, the next meeting of which had been fixed for that day, until further progress had been made in arriving at a definite basis of future discussion, subject to an understanding as to the date of its re-assembling during the present year. On the part of the Government of India I concurred in the propriety of this proposal, and stated my readiness to give the necessary instructions to its representatives to attend the Conference, whenever it was found practicable to fix the date of its meeting. As the Governments of France and the United States have throughout taken the initiative in this matter, it would appear to be rather for them than for Her Majesty's Government to take the necessary steps to promote the early re-assembling of the Conference. I cannot state when it is likely to re-assemble.