§ MR. SUMMERSI beg to ask the Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs whether the Government will consider the advisability of entering into negotiations with the German Emperor, providing for the submission to arbitration of any question or dispute that may hereafter arise in connection with the Anglo-German Agreement; whether the Government will consider the advisability of inserting an arbitration clause in the proposed Anglo-French Agreement; and whether the Government will consider the advisability of inserting an arbitration clause in the proposed Anglo-Portuguese Agreement?
§ * SIR J. FERGUSSONIn answer to these questions, I have to say that Her Majesty's Government cannot undertake such general engagements. They have shown in recent instances their readiness to refer to arbitration special and defined cases, fit subjects for reference to arbitration. But there might be cases of difference in which our indefeasible rights might be challenged, and which we could not submit as open questions.