§ SIR HERBERT MAXWELLasked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether he is able now to renew the assurance given to the House on 3rd April 1883, that the Treaty with the King of Portugal relative to the Congo River—
Shall be made known to Parliament in such a way, and with the intervention of such an interval, that Parliament shall be enabled to exercise its judgment upon it?
MR. GLADSTONESir, I am afraid that the hon. Baronet labours possibly under some misapprehension. I am not aware of having at any time spoken of what is commonly understood as giving facilities on the part of the Government. I daresay that the words referred to—though I do not know—are correctly cited, or in substance correctly cited. I think, if I remember right, that when the formation of the Treaty was contemplated, it was observed in this House that the Treaty might be ratified before the House had any opportunity of considering its provisions; and I have no doubt that I answered, and I recollect well having answered, that ample opportunity would be given by allowing a considerable time between 1172 the formation of the Treaty and its ratification. That is the position in which the matter stands; but I certainly never did undertake, and could not. I think, have undertaken, to give a Government night for the purpose of discussing this question, in total ignorance, as I should have been at the time, of what the calls upon the Government might be. There is, I believe, no practical difficulty at present in the case. There is no immediate pressure or necessity for the ratification of the Treaty, and I have no doubt that my hon. Friends and those who are interested will use their efforts to bring the matter under consideration of the House, and I should think it would be reasonable to expect that they would find an opportunity before the time comes, which need not be a very early time, for the ratification of the Treaty.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURsaid, that, as it was quite evident the hon. Member for Manchester (Mr. Jacob Bright) had mistaken the meaning of the pledge which the Prime Minister gave, he would repeat the Question as to what course the hon. Gentleman intended to take in reference to his Motion on this subject?
§ MR. JACOB BRIGHT, in reply, said, that he assumed that such an opportunity would be given; and, of course, the hon. Members who were interested in the discussion would exert themselves to get the opportunity.
§ MR. RITCHIEasked, if the House were to understand that the Treaty would not be ratified until an opportunity had been afforded for its discussion?
MR. GLADSTONE, in reply, said, he could only repeat that there was no intention of proceeding to an early ratification of the Treaty, and nothing should be done in the matter without the full knowledge of Parliament.