§ MR. LABOUCHEREasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether the statement in The Times of 18th June that, after the stay of Her Majesty at Mentone, Lord Lyons was directed to make representations to the French Government as to the gambling at Monte Carlo, and accordingly did so, is correct; and, whether, if 810 so, he will lay upon the Table of the House all Correspondence upon the matter; whether Her Majesty's Government is aware that at Nice, Vichy, Aix-les-Bains, and other places in France resorted to by those in search of health or amusement, establishments where gambling is permitted are a source of public revenue, and whether it is contemplated to make representations to the French Government, or to any other Government, in regard to this matter; and, whether any representations have been received, either from the Government of the Prince of Monaco or from any other Government, in regard to the facts that race meetings take place in some part of the United Kingdom, almost every week in the year, which are attended by men called "bookmakers," who are professional betters, and where public gambling is carried on with the full knowledge and assent of the Police?
§ LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICENo, Sir; the statement quoted in the 1st paragraph of my hon. Friend's Question is entirely incorrect. The Foreign Office would be going beyond its proper province if it was to make representations about gambling tables in France; and the same observation would apply to the Foreign Office of the Prince of Monaco if it was to make representations about race meetings in England.
§ MR. COLERIDGE KENNARDIs it beyond the province of the Government to make inquiries with respect to the gambling establishment now in existence at Port Said?
§ LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICEThat is not a matter arising out of this Question.