HC Deb 20 March 1884 vol 286 cc301-3
MR. JACOB BRIGHT

asked the Secretary of State for War, If an opportunity will be afforded to the House to express its opinion on the Treaty between this Country and Portugal in regard to the Congo, according to the pledge given by the First Lord of the Treasury on April 3rd of last year— That the Treaty should be made known to Parliament before ratification in such a way and with the intervention of such an interval that Parliament shall be enabled to exercise an independent judgment upon it; and, whether the House may be assured that the Treaty shall not be ratified until such opportunity has been obtained?

THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTON

The pledge given by the Prime Minister last year appears to be accurately stated in the Question of my hon. Friend; and, in conformity with that pledge, the Treaty between this country and Portugal in regard to the Congo and the Correspondence relating to it has been laid on the Table. The Treaty has not yet been ratified. I believe that there are on the Paper one or two Notices of Motion calling attention to this subject; but the hon. Members who have placed these Notices have not yet obtained a day for bringing them forward. No doubt they will do their utmost, if they desire to discuss the question, to obtain a day. At the present moment I am not in a position to make any arrangement on behalf of the Government with regard to giving a day for the discussion; but there is no immediate intention of ratifying the Treaty, and the House will not be taken by surprise, as the ratification will not take place until full Notice has been given.

MR. JACOB BRIGHT

said, the noble Marquess had stated that there was no immediate intention of ratifying the Treaty. Would the noble Marquess be good enough to answer the last part of his Question?

THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTON

I really do not know whether the House is desirous to discuss the matter. All I can say is that the House shall not be taken by surprise. If they wish to discuss it I have no doubt an opportunity will be found.

MR. NEWDEGATE

Remembering what occurred in regard to the French Treaty of 1860. I would ask the noble Lord whether he will give the House a similiar assurance to that given in 1860, to the effect that the Treaty will not be concluded until the House has had an opportunity of considering it?

SIR HERBERT MAXWELL

Before the noble Lord answers that, and remembering what occurred last Tuesday, I would ask whether, supposing an hon. Member who has a Notice of Motion on this subject obtains the first place on a Tuesday, the Government will undertake to keep a House?

THE MAUQUESS OF HARTINGTON

In reply to the Question of the hon. Member for North Warwickshire (Mr. Newdegate), I have to say that I do not remember what occurred in 1860, and, therefore, I cannot undertake to give a similar pledge. With reference to the Question of the hon. Member for Wigtonshire (Sir Herbert Maxwell), I have to observe that it is beyond the power of the Government sometimes to keep a House on Tuesday. But if this matter should be brought forward on a Tuesday evening we will do the best we can.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

Supposing that private Members should fail in getting a good place, will the Government pledge themselves to give facilities for the discussion?

THE MARQUESS OF HARTTNGTON

I have already said that I am not in a position at present to make any arrangement on behalf of the Government, but that the Treaty will not be ratified without the House being informed of it, and it appears to me that that will be the time for raising the question as to a discussion.