BASON HENRY DE WORMSasked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether his attention has been called to the following statement in the semi-official Moscow Gazette, with regard to the proposed arbitration between England and Russia:—
There was only one thing to do, and that was to permit the correctness of our action to he certified to by a third party. This is not an arbitration in the proper sense of the term, which, would he accompanied by some kind of practical result;whether the basis of the proposed arbitration is correctly described in the above paragraph; whether the arbitration includes a reference to the counter statements, as well as to counter contentions, with regard to the alleged breach of the covenant of 16th March; and, whether it is agreed that the Power which the arbitrator may decide to have been at fault shall make an amende?
MR. GLADSTONEIt would be very difficult to explain comments in newspapers, even though they are semiofficial, about proceedings going on between two Governments as to matters of importance not yet made known. Therefore, I must be excused from referring to other matters in the Question, and also in that of the hon. Member for Derry (Mr. Lewis), which follows, because I shall have something to say on the subject to-day, and because the time is now close at hand when the hon. Gentleman will have all the documents in his hands, and therefore will be able to form a judgment for himself upon a much better and surer basis than an 148 answer from me upon this subject would afford him.