§ MR. ONSLOWgave Notice that on Monday he should ask the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether he would agree to the production of the Papers relating to the payment of the Indian troops lately employed by the Government in Egypt, considering that the Secretary of State for War had, on more than one occasion, promised to produce them?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONPerhaps I may be allowed, with reference to the Notice of the hon. Member, to say that since last night I have had an opportunity of further consultation with my Colleagues, and also of referring more in detail to the answer which I gave last year; and I have come to the conclusion that, although I think there would be some inconvenience in the publication of those Papers in India, yet, having regard to the nature of the replies which I gave last Session, I cannot refuse to give the Papers. The only objection which I feel to announcing this course is caused by the somewhat un-Parliamentary threat which the hon. Member for Guildford (Mr. Onslow) made yesterday evening; but I think, if the hon. Member for Mid Lincolnshire (Mr. Stanhope) was in his place, he would confirm me in saying that at an early period of the evening I had consulted with him as to the opinion which is entertained by him and his Friends, and that opinion has had some influence in determining the course which I have decided to take.
§ MR. ONSLOWAfter the remarks of the noble Marquess, I may say that I had no idea he had been in communication with my hon. Friend. As to the threat I held out, I did not think it was un-Parliamentary. It was to this effect—that the noble Marquess would hear more of it. If that is an un-Parliamentary expression, of course, I beg most numbly to withdraw it. The noble Marquess has heard a little more of it, and I am glad he has arrived at this conclusion. Under the circumstances, I shall not ask the Question of which I have given Notice.