§ MR. HOWARD VINCENT (Sheffield, Central)asked the First Lord of the Treasury, If Her Majesty's Government considers the Mother Country bound to the first Resolution of the Australasian Convention, held in Sydney in 1883—
That further acquisition of dominion in the Pacific south, of the Equator, by any Foreign Power, would be highly detrimental to the safety and well-being of the British possessions in Australasia, and injurious to the interests of the Empire;and, in such case, if, in order to avoid any misunderstanding upon the subject, 910 a notification to this effect has been or will be communicated to the Ambassadors and Ministers of Foreign States?
§ THE FIRST LORD (Mr. W. E. GLADSTONE) (Edinburgh, Mid Lothian)The Resolution to which the Question of the hon. Member calls attention is not, of course, in the nature of law, but is an expression of opinion by an important Body. It is not in itself binding in any manner, even on the Colonial Government, much less on the Imperial Government. It is, however, an expression of opinion to which Her Majesty's Government would certainly have regard, according to the circumstances, as part of the matter for their consideration in any case that may arise and might seem to touch the Resolution.