§ SIR J. POPE HENNESSY (Kilkenny, N.)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Bill which was introduced in the House of Lords by the Government respecting the Colony of Newfoundland has been communicated to the Government of Newfoundland for their observation?
MR. STAVELEY HILL (Staffordshire, Kingswinford)Before the question is answered I desire to put one to the First Lord of the Treasury upon the same subject. I have received the following cable message from the Speaker of the House of Assembly and the President of the Legislative Council:—
§ "To Staveley Hill, Commons, London.
§ "We are directed to transmit to you the following Resolutions unanimously adopted by both branches of the Legislature of this colony:—'Resolved,—That the Newfoundland Legislature have had under consideration the despatches from Her Majesty's Government relative to the French Treaties question, and especially the despatches in which it is intimated that Imperial coercive legislation relative to this colony would be introduced. Resolved,—That the Legislature humbly and earnestly pray that the House of Commons 1537 will be graciously pleased to take the necessary steps to delay the legislation referred to, so as to enable the Legislature of this colony to present their views before the British House of Commons, which they will do at the earliest possible moment.' You are respectfully solicited by the Legislature of Newfoundland to urge that the request made be acquiesced in.
§ "EDWARD D. SHEA, President, Legislative Council, and
§ "GEORGE H. EMERSON, Speaker, House of Assembly, Newfoundland."
§ I wish to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he is prepared to acquiesce in that request?
§ *MR. W. H. SMITHThe question is one of such grave importance that I am sure the House will not expect me to give a hasty answer to it. I have not had an opportunity of conferring with my Colleagues on the question. The telegram only reached us this morning, and I must take time before replying to it. The question comes from a Legislature which is entitled to the utmost consideration, and if the question is repeated on Monday I shall be able to give an answer.
§ SIR J. FERGUSSONIn the unavoidable absence of my right hon. Friend the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies I will answer the question of the hon. Member for Kilkenny (Sir J. P. Hennessy). The draft of this Bill has not yet been communicated to the Government of Newfoundland. They were requested in November to procure the necessary legislation for empowering Her Majesty's officers to carry out the Treaties with France, and the present Bill is proposed in consequence of their declining to do so, as will be seen by reference to Parliamentary Paper C. 6275, p. 62.