§ MR. BARBOUR (Paisley)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been called to a communication in the Times of the 16th instant, in which negotiations are said to be in progress which may result in the transfer of the British Envoy of Gambia to France; if there is any foundation for this statement; and if, in the case of the transfer being ultimately decided on, due precautions will be taken for the preservation of British commercial interests?
§ * SIR J. FERGUSSONThere is no foundation for the report that any negotiations are proceeding in reference to the Gambia.