§ MR. BRADLAUGH (Northampton)asked the Under Secretary of State for India, Whether a proposal for a three years' lease of the Ruby Mines, Burmah, with details of the proposal, has already been communicated to Parliament; and, why the same publicity cannot be accorded to the other proposals as to the Ruby Mines received by the Government?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Sir JOHN GORST) (Chatham)The Viceroy, in a Minute of February 17, 1886, which has been communicated to Parliament, appears to have mentioned, as an illustration of the revenue resources of Burmah, the offer made by a Calcutta firm to lease the Ruby Mines. This offer constituted part of the negotiations to which I referred some days ago as having taken place in the Spring of last year. The Secretary of State is of opinion that it would not be for the public interest to publish the details of negotiations which are not yet concluded.
§ MR. BRADLAUGHasked whether the negotiations with the Calcutta firm had been brought to a conclusion?
§ SIR JOHN GORSTThe whole of the negotiations in connection with the Ruby Mines are still pending. However ingenious the hon. Member may be in putting Questions of this kind to me, I do not think that I shall be able to answer any of them until the negotiations are concluded.
§ MR. BRADLAUGHWill the hon. and learned Gentleman tell me what distinguishes communications which can 1770 be properly made to the House from those which cannot.
§ [No reply.]