§ MR. SUMMERS (Huddersfield)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether, agreeably to the precedent set in the case of the cession of the Ionian Islands to Greece, the Government will undertake to despatch a Commissioner to Heligoland for the purpose of eliciting the opinion of its inhabitants with regard to the proposed cession of the Island to Germany?
§ MR. W. H. SMITHHer Majesty's Government do not think this necessary; they are well informed of the sentiments of the inhabitants.
§ MR. SUMMERSI beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he will undertake that the proposed Anglo-German Agreement shall not be signed by the British Plenipotentiary until Parliament has had an opportunity of expressing its opinion on the Bill for the cession of Heligoland; and also whether the proposed Anglo-German Agreement, will contain a clause providing that the portion of the Agreement which relates, to the cession of Heligoland shall not take effect until it has been ratified by the passing into law by the British Parliament of a Bill authorising the cession?
§ MR. W. H. SMITHNo such clause is necessary, for the Agreement will only provide that a Bill shall be introduced to enable Her Majesty to make the cession.
§ MR. CHANNING (Northampton, E.)I desire to ask whether the Prime Minister, in a recent speech, declared that Parliament and public opinion ought 1797 to be consulted before any surrender of territory took place?
§ MR. W. H. SMITHI do not know what the Prime Minister said on that occasion; but if a question is put on the Paper, I will communicate with the noble Lord.
§ MR. W. E. GLADSTONE (Edinburgh, Mid Lothian)Do the Government intend to lay on the Table any Papers whatever relating to Heligoland?
§ MR. W. H. SMITHCertainly, Sir; as soon as possible.
§ MR. T. M. HEALYIs it intended that the island shall be fortified by the Germans as soon as they get possession of it?
§ MR. W. H. SMITHI am not aware of any provision of that kind in the Treaty.