§ MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTasked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether it is a fact, as stated by The Observer, that "the Cabinet have rejected Lord Northbrook's Report?
MR. GLADSTONEI think that the hon. Member, if he bears in mind what was said on this subject a few nights ago, must have foreseen that I should not be in a position to answer this Question. I could not, without a breach of public duty, explain what proposals Her Majesty's Government had framed and brought before the notice of the Powers of Europe, or in what they agree with, or differ from, Lord Northbrook's Report.
§ MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTwished to know, whether the details of the communication would be laid upon the Table before the rising of the House for the holidays?
MR. GLADSTONEI do not know when the House will rise; but, assuming and believing that it will rise very soon, I have no hope of being able to submit the results of the applications to the Powers to the House before the Adjournment; and I may, perhaps, remind the hon. Gentleman, in explanation of 442 what I say, that this is not a question of simple application to the Great Powers of Europe, that being merely the first step in the process. Next to that would be the application to all the minor Powers who are likewise parties to the Law of Liquidation; and that will mean the introduction of changes, and the drafting and determination of changes, in the Law of Liquidation itself. That will involve considerable time, and I have no hope of being able to submit to the House the result of those applications within the period left us before the Adjournment of the House over Christmas.