§ SIR GEORGE CAMPBELL (Kirkcaldy, &c.)asked the Under Secretary of State for India, If it is true, as recently stated in regard to the late misunderstanding with Thibet, that when, some three years ago, a Commercial Mission was pressed on the Government of India they saw strong objections to adopting that measure under the circumstances of the time, and declined; but that the Home Government took a different view, and decided on deputing to China, with the above object, an officer who happened to be in England at the time?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Sir JOHN GORST) (Chatham)No; the statement is inaceurate. The Secretary of State has no reason to believe that any serious divergence of policy existed, as the hon. Member supposes, between the Government of India and the last Home Government but one.
§ SIR GEORGE CAMPBELLasked whether the hon. Gentleman had yet ascertained what was the origin of the statement, besides the official Memorandum in which it was set forth?
§ SIR JOHN GORSTreplied, that he was not yet officially cognizant of the existence of such a Memorandum.