§ MR. LABOUCHEREI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, whether the plan proposed by the United States Government in regard to the disputed frontier line between British Guiana and Venezuela for referring the question to the decision of a Commission composed of two Englishmen and two Americans with, if necessary, a fifth member, a neutral, or of the Chief Justices of England and the United States with, if necessary, a third 1528 neutral member, has been declined by Her Majesty's Government; whether in the scheme of general arbitration as to any disputes arising between Great Britain and the United States, which has been submitted to the Government of the United States by Her Majesty's Government, the Venezuela dispute was excluded; whether negotiations with regard to this dispute are still continuing between Her Majesty's Government and the United States; and, whether, if this be so, there is any probability of an agreement before the American Congress adjourns in May?
MR. CURZONNegotiations with the United States Government are still proceeding, but it would not be advisable to make any statement with regard to them at present.
§ MR. LABOUCHEREMay we suppose that these negotiations will have a favourable termination?
§ SIR W. HARCOURTI wish to give the right hon. Gentleman notice that I will ask a Question on this subject on Monday.