§ MR. EVERETT (Suffolk, Woodbridge)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he has observed that a Bill for the free coinage of silver at the ratio of 24 to 1 has just been introduced into the Senate of the United States; whether, as Her Majesty's Government are now aiming to fix that very ratio between gold in the sovereign and silver in the rupee in India, joint action between the two Governments would be; possible, with a view to the re-establishing on a durable basis of a par of exchange between the two money metals of the world; and whether Her Majesty's Government will confer with the Government of the United States upon the matter to see whether united action is possible?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. W. E. GLADSTONE,) Edinburgh, MidlothianThe hon. Gentleman assumes that we may usefully enter into negotiations with the United States on account of the presentation of a certain Bill to the Senate of the United States. But the Bill in question in no way represents the policy of the United States Government, and is understood to be opposed to that policy. I rather think that my hon. Friend will see that it could not form, even if it were accepted and passed by the Government, a suitable opportunity for communication with the United States Government, setting apart any question whether there would be justifiable ground for such communication on the passing of such a Bill.