SIR GEORGE CAMPBELL&c.) (Kirkcaldy,I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if steps have been taken to proceed with the Newfoundland arbitration and push it on as rapidly as possible, in view to the continued strained relations between the Newfoundlanders and the French on the Newfoundland shore?
§ SIR J. FERGUSSONThe actual state of the case is that when the Agreement for arbitration was signed both Governments reserved the approval of their respective Parliaments before the arrangement was put into execution. Her Majesty's Government have obtained the approval of the Imperial Parliament. The French Government have as yet only obtained the approval of their Senate, and have, up to this time, abstained from bringing the Agreement before the Chamber of Deputies. Her Majesty's Government are doing what is in their power to bring the negotiations to a speedy and satisfactory issue.