§ MR. DILLON (Mayo, E.)I wish to ask the Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs a Question which I hope he will be able to answer without notice. It is, whether his attention has been drawn to a statement made in the French Chamber yesterday by M. Berthelot, to the following effect:—"But before granting their co-operation the French Government have had to ask for explanations on various points, and I beg the Chamber to content itself with this indication, inasmuch as an exchange of views is now going on between the two Governments;" and whether, in view of that declaration, the Under Secretary adheres to the answer he gave yesterday that no reply had been received from France?
MR. CURZONI believe it would be quite contrary to practice, and I am sure it would be equally contrary to convenience, for Questions of this kind when put to the representative of the Foreign Office to be answered without any notice at all. [Ministerial cheers.]
§ MR. DILLONI only desire by way of personal explanation to say that I put the Question without notice because I 1475 thought the right hon. Gentleman had hardly fairly dealt with the House in the Answer he gave yesterday. [Cries of "Order."]
§ MR. SPEAKERThat is hardly in the nature of a personal explanation. [Cheers.]