HC Deb 16 March 1896 vol 38 cc1002-3
SIR ALBERT ROLLIT

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, is there, to the knowledge, officially or unofficially, of Her Majesty's Government, foundations for the statement of the special correspondent of The Times, that the United States Government has expressed its willingness to either accept or propose a Scheme for a Joint Commission to consider and report upon the Venezuelan dispute?

THE UNDER, SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. GEORGE CURZON,) Lancashire, Southport

We have received official proposals from the United States Government which are now the subject of negotiation; they would not be accurately described by the language of the hon. Member. A very wise rule has hitherto prevailed, that negotiations should not be discussed in Parliament while they are going on. I am unable to depart from it in the present instance.