§ SIR W. HARCOURTI desire to state that the Government are of opinion that this House will not be willing that the outrage recently committed upon the great representative Assembly of a friendly nation should pass without notice. I wish, therefore, to state that, with the approval of this House, a fitting communication will be made to the French Chamber and their President expressing the sympathy of the House of Commons on this occasion and their horror at the crime which has been perpetrated.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOUR (Manchester, E.)I may perhaps be allowed to express, on behalf of my friends as well as myself, our entire concurrence in the step which the Government propose to take. We think that they have been well advised in taking this action. Though every man in this House, to whatever Party he may belong, has but one feeling on a subject of this kind, I should be sorry to allow the statement of the right hon. Gentleman to pass without some word of acknowledgment from me. I am sure that the great free 1051 Assembly within whose walls the outrage was committed may rest assured that behind the more or less formal message which I presume will be sent to them there is the warmest feeling of sympathy, respect, and regard of all those who in this country are carrying on similar work incidental to and incumbent on a free Assembly. I do not think it is necessary for us to add a single word to the suggestion which has come from the Government. We are unanimous on this question, and I am grateful to the Government for having taken the course which they have suggested.