§ MR. HOWELL (Bethnal Green, N. E.)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is in a position to make any definite statement to the House with reference to the arrest and extradition of Jabez Spencer Balfour; whether it is true that the Argentine Republic have offered to give up Mr. Balfour if the British Government will agree to give up a person similarly accused for similar alleged offences or crimes; and whether the Government will consent to lay on the Table of this House the Papers and Correspondence relating to the negotiations upon this subject?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Sir E. GREY,) Northumberland, BerwickThe Argentine Government refuse to grant the extradition unless reciprocity is conceded. In the absence of the ratification of the Treaty signed in 1889, Her Majesty's Government are precluded by law from giving this reciprocity. It is hoped that the Argentine Congress may ratify the Treaty of 1889; and, under these circumstances, it does not seem advisable to lay any Papers at present.