§ SIR EDWARD WATKIN (Hythe)asked the President of the Board of Trade, If, prior to the second reading of the Channel Tunnel Bill, he will obtain and place in the Library, for the perusal of Members, a copy of a letter (which has been read by the present Secretary to the Board of Trade, and is in the possession of Lord Rothschild), from the late Earl of Derby to the late Earl of Beaconsfield, expressing opinions in favour of the construction of a tunnel to connect England and France; and also a copy of a letter from the Earl of Beaconsfield to the late Baron Lionel de Rothschild, enclosing, and concurring in, the foregoing letter?
§ THE PRESIDENT (Sir MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH) (Bristol, W.)I know nothing whatever of this matter, and the Secretary to the Board of Trade informs me that he is not aware that he 1161 ever read the letter referred to in the Question of the hon. Baronet. If the hon. Baronet thinks that a correspondence so antiquated is of material importance to his case, it is his duty rather than mine to provide for its publication.
§ SIR EDWARD WATKINsaid, in consequence of the answer of the right hon. Gentleman, he should raise the question in another form.