§ SIR C. W. DILKE (Gloucester, Forest of Dean)In accordance with private notice, I beg to ask the Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs why the Papers as to Siam promised yesterday were not circulated to-day, the result being that Members had to draw their information from the French Yellow Book published yesterday. Will a copy of the French Yellow Book be placed in the Library?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Sir E. GREY, Northumberland, Berwick)The Paper was laid on the Table as promised on Monday; but the printer has standing instructions not to issue any copies till he has received notice from the House of Commons that the Paper has actually been laid on the Table. The 1178 object of this rule is to ensure that our own Blue Books do not get into the hands of the public till after they have reached Members of the House. But this is an exceptional case, and I regret that, under the circumstances, it did not occur to me to send special instructions to the printer to suspend the ordinary rule. I am informed that the Papers will be here before 4 o'clock, and there-will be no objection to placing a copy of the French Yellow Book in the Library when we receive it.