§ MR. PAULTON (Durham, Bishop Auckland)asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether the account in The Standard to-day of the proceedings of the Colonial Conference had been published with the authority of the Colonial Office; and, whether it was correct?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Sir HENRY HOLLAND) (Hampstead)I much regret that this account of the proceedings of the Conference, which is inaccurate in many particulars and very incomplete, has appeared in The Standard. It has no official authority, and has not been sanctioned by the Colonial Office. I have made, and am making, inquiry into the matter. I may add that at the earliest opportunity I shall, with the full assent of the Delegates, present a revised account of all the proceedings and papers, except such as are of a strictly confidential nature.
§ MR. T. M. HEALY (Longford, N.)asked, whether there was any truth in the statement in The Standard that one of the most important of the Australian Delegates said that the Marquess of Salisbury's speech might very well have come from a French Premier?
§ SIR HENRY HOLLANDIt is not correct.