HC Deb 03 May 1888 vol 325 cc1234-5
MR. LABOUCHERE (Northampton)

asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether any communications, direct or indirect, written or oral, have been interchanged between Her Majesty's Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and the Duke of Norfolk, either immediately before or during or after the Jubilee Mission of the latter to His Holiness the Pope in regard to the relations of the Holy See with Ireland, or with any other portion of the United Kingdom; and, whether any communications, direct or indirect, written or oral, have been interchanged between Her Majesty's Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and any Catholic Bishop or Bishops upon the same subject within the last 12 months?

THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Sir JAMES FERGUSSON) (Manchester, N.E.)

No official communications on any political subject connected with Ireland have passed between the Foreign Office and the Duke of Norfolk or any Catholic Bishop.

MR. LABOUCHERE

The right hon. Gentleman will excuse me in saying that that is not exactly what I asked. I asked whether there had been any communications, direct or indirect, written or oral, interchanged between Her Majesty's Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and the Duke of Norfolk? I perhaps may be allowed to say I called it Secretary of State; but I will add, "in his capacity as Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs." That is quite a different Question.

SIR JAMES FERGUSSON

If the hon. Member asks me whether any private communications have passed—[Mr. LABOUCHERE: I did not say private.]—between Lord Salisbury and the Duke of Norfolk, all I can say is that I believe they are on terms of private friendship, and it is probable that they have often talked together about Ireland; but I have no information upon that subject.

MR. LABOUCHERE

Do I understand that Lord Salisbury and the Duke of Norfolk have had many private communications upon the subject which I have stated in the Question?

SIR JAMES FERGUSSON

No, Sir; I have no information on the point at all.

SIR GEORGE CAMPBELL (Kirkcaldy, &c.)

Does the right hon. Gentleman know whether any unofficial communications of a political character took place between Her Majesty's Government and the Pope?

SIR JAMES FERGUSSON

I must ask for Notice of Questions of this kind.