MR. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can state why the Correspondence relative to the signature of the Protocol of 13th February, 1893, modifying the North Sea Liquor Traffic Convention of 16th November, 1887, was not laid before this House earlier than this present week; why three mouths were allowed to elapse after the date of 1363 the latest document in the Correspondence —namely, 14th February, 1893—before it was presented to Parliament; why this Correspondence was not presented to Parliament before Her Majesty's Government introduced the Bill ordered to be printed on 13th March, 1893, for carrying into effect the Convention to which the Correspondence relates; and whether, in view of the continued refusal of France to join in the Convention, Her Majesty's Government have seen any, and, if so, what, reason to depart from the conclusion expressed by Lord Salisbury, in his Despatch of 2nd July, 1891, that, if no security is obtained with respect to French vessels in the repression of the abuses which it is the object of the Convention to stop, "coopers" in the North Sea would no doubt hoist the French flag?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Sir E. GREY,) Northumberland, BerwickThe delay in issuing the Correspondence was due to the fact that the printer was occupied with other and more urgent work, especially that connected with the Behring Sea Arbitration. As regards the last paragraph, I have to say that the French interest in the "cooper" trade is comparatively small; but if the result apprehended should take place, it is provided in the Protocol that the Convention can be terminated in one year or three months respectively, instead of in five years and one year.
MR. GIBSON BOWLESDo the Government adhere to the conclusions of Lord Salisbury as set forth in the last paragraph of the question?
§ SIR E. GREYThe object of the Protocol is to guard against the apprehensions expressed by Lord Salisbury, or any which might possibly arise.