§ MR. LABOUCHEREI beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he can assure the House that no pressure is being put on the Persian Government by Her Majesty's Representative to give an indemnity to the Company owning the tobacco concession for the abrogation of the contract; that no suggestion is being made to the Persian Government to pay more to the Company than the amount of money actually expended by it, exclusive of the £300,000 paid to Major Talbot for the concession; and that all Papers in regard to this matter will be laid upon the Table of the House before the Foreign Office Estimate is submitted to it?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR,) Manchester, E.My hon. Friend the Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs has promised to lay the Papers on the Table at an early day. I do not think it would be convenient, or even possible, to discuss the question until the Papers are before the House, and surely no public advantage would arise from the attempt.
§ MR. LABOUCHEREWill the right hon. Gentleman state when the Papers will be laid before the House?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI cannot state the exact date at which the Papers will be laid before the House; that must depend upon the completion of the case; and no Papers can be produced until the case has reached a complete stage. When such a stage is reached, no time will be lost in making the House fully aware of all the facts.
§ MR. LABOUCHEREI give notice that unless that stage is reached before the Foreign Office Vote comes on, I will discuss the question upon that Vote.