HC Deb 08 March 1883 vol 276 cc1752-3
LORD RANDOLPH CHURCHILL

asked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, Why the Secretary of State's message to Sir A. Musgrave, alluded to in Despatch No. 25, "Florence Papers," has not been printed and published; why the message of the Governor, alluded to at the end of the same Despatch, has not been printed and published; why the Despatch from Lord Kimberley, alluded to in Despatch No. 27 of the same Papers, has not been printed and published; and, if he will cause these documents to be at once printed and circulated?

BARON HENRY DE WORMS

said, he should like to know why there had not been printed with Despatch No. 35 in the Blue Book the instructions which had been forwarded by the Colonial Office to the Governor of Jamaica, relating to the appointment of two official members of the Legislative Council?

MR. EVELYN ASHLEY

, in reply, said, that the only reason for the omission of these documents was the desire to lighten a Blue Book as much as possible of mere repetitions, and of what did not add anything to the information required. Two of them were only short telegrams, and their contents were obvious from the context. To satisfy the noble Lord, however, he had brought these Papers down to the House; and if, after seeing them, the noble Lord really thought they ought to be printed, he would have them issued. The despatch was omitted because it contained some paragraphs connected with a totally different concern. As to the Question of the hon. Member (Baron Henry de Worms), he could not answer it without Notice.

LORD RANDOLPH CHURCHILL

asked whether the Under Secretary would issue the extract of the Despatch to which he had alluded?

BARON HENRY DE WORMS

said, as regarded the "Florence Papers," it was very necessary that hon. Members should know what was the nature of the omitted despatches, seeing that the question would probably be discussed during the evening in Committee of Supply.

MR. EVELYN ASHLEY

said, he now had had a moment to read the despatch, and could assure the hon. Mem- ber that the instructions were only a telegraphic direction to appoint two gentlemen named as members of the Legislature. That was all.