§ MR. HENNIKER HEATON (Canterbury)asked the Postmaster General whether he has any objection to lay upon the Table of the House the correspondence which led to the acquisition by the Governments concerned of the submarine cables between England and the Continent, and also the correspondence and documents relating to the fixing of the rate of twopence per word for messages transmitted between England and France, Germany, Holland, and Belgium?
§ *MR. RAIKESIn reply to the hon. Member, I have to state that the correspondence to which he refers has been regarded as confidential not only by this country, but also by the other countries concerned; and I may add that it would be contrary to the public interest to lay it upon the Table of the House.