§ MR. HOULDSWORTHasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign 439 Affairs, If the communication from the Manchester Cotton Spinners' Association to the Foreign Office, on the Congo Treaty, recently referred to by Lord Granville, contained any intimation of the fact that, at the meeting when the resolution was adopted, only six members were present; and, whether, under those circumstances, he will endeavour to obtain an expression of the deliberate opinions of the cotton spinners of Lancashire?
§ LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICEThe letter referred to was signed by the Secretary, "in pursuance of instructions of my (his) Committee," and said nothing as to the number of members present at the meeting. The resolution was said to have been passed unanimously. In reply to the second part of the Question, I may say that the Foreign Office has had communications from the different Chambers of Commerce.