§ MR. LABOUCHERE (Northampton)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether there is any truth in the statement of the Opinione, which is regarded in Italy as a semi-official journal, that, although no actual treaty has been concluded, a definite understanding has been come to between this country and Italy, that the English and Italian Navies shall act together in the event of war; and that, a year ago, when a French attack on Spezzia was feared, the British Mediterranean Squadron was held in readiness to assist Italy?
§ * THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Sir J. FERGUSSON,) Manchester, N.E.The action of Her Majesty's Government, in the improbable event of war breaking out between the two Powers named by the hon. Gentleman, will doubtless be decided, like all other questions of policy, by the circumstances of that particular time and the interests of this country. Her Majesty's Government are under no engagements or understandings fettering their liberty in that respect. Her Majesty's Government have never heard of any grounds for imputing to the French Government such a piratical design as that mentioned in the question.
§ MR. LABOUCHEREAm I to understand that there is no truth in the statement of the Opinione?
§ * SIR J. FERGUSSONI have not seen this article in the Opinione, though I asked for it to-day on seeing the question of the hon. Member; therefore I am unable to state whether there is any truth in it or not; but I have distinctly answered the question put down upon the Paper.
§ MR. LABOUCHEREMay I ask whether, assuming this is a fair statement of what appears in the Opinione, there is any truth in it?
§ * MR. SPEAKEROrder, order!
§ * SIR J. FERGUSSONI cannot answer that.