HC Deb 20 March 1896 vol 38 cc1474-5
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. CURZON

I 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. DILLON

I only desire by way of personal explanation to say that I put the Question without notice because I thought the right hon. Gentleman had hardly fairly dealt with the House in the Answer he gave yesterday. [Cries of "Order."]

MR. SPEAKER

That is hardly in the nature of a personal explanation. [Cheers.]

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