§ MR. SUTHERLANDasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether the Government have accepted an invitation for this Country to take part in an International Conference, 487 about to assemble in Rome, for the purpose of determining the principles or rules on which quarantine should in future be imposed on shipping; and, if so, whether he will state the names of the representatives deputed by this Country, and also lay upon the Table of this House a copy of the instructions furnished for their guidance in treating of a matter of such importance to British shipping?
§ LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICEHer Majesty's Government have accepted an invitation to a Scientific and Sanitary Conference, which is about to meet at Rome, and will examine the best method of preventing the spread of cholera. Sir Guyer Hunter, who was employed in Egypt during the epidemic of 1883, and whose valuable Be-ports have been laid before Parliament, and Dr. Thorne, the assistant medical officer of the Local Government Board, will be the British delegates. The recommendations of the Conference will be, in the usual course, submitted to the Governments represented, but will not have any binding force until they have been adopted by those Governments. It would be contrary to practice to make public at present the instructions given to the British delegates.