§ COLONEL SIR HOWARD VINCENT (Sheffield, Central)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if the assurances of the Russian Government that the ships of all nations will be admitted at Port Arthur, Talien-wan, and any ports Russia has acquired 420 or may acquire by way of usufruct or otherwise from the Chinese Empire, are in writing or merely verbal, and if they include an undertaking that British goods shall never be taxed at such ports beyond the five per cent. levied under treaty at the ports of China, and never be subject to any greater restriction or disability; and, in such case, if Her Majesty's Government will invite the Government of His Imperial Majesty the Czar to conclude a treaty embodying these conditions, and enter into negotiations for a like arrangement with respect to British trade with His Imperial Majesty the German Emperor and the French Republic as regards any ports or territories leased to them, or otherwise placed under their commercial influence by the Emperor of China?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYI think it would be better if my hon. Friend would wait until the Blue Book is in his hands, which, I believe, will be published on Thursday or Friday. He will find in it full materials to answer his questions.
§ SIR W. V. HARCOURT (Monmouthshire, W.)Yesterday the right Ron. Gentleman appealed to the House to postpone the discussion on the Foreign Office Vote. That was readily assented to, of course, but then the right hon. Gentleman suggested taking in its place the Colonial Office Vote. I have taken means of ascertaining the feeling of hon. Members on this side of the House, and I think it would be better that the principal Colonial Office Vote should not be taken so early as Friday, as there are several very important matters to be discussed in connection with that Vote. I, therefore, ask the right hon. Gentleman not to take the principal Colonial Vote on Friday.
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYOf course, after the appeal of the right hon. Gentleman, I think the best plan will be not to take the Colonial Vote at all on Friday. I would then go on with the Civil Service Votes remaining in Class 2 in their order. I should propose to take the Foreign Office Vote on the first Friday available after the Under Secretary is well enough to take full charge of the Vote.
§ SIR CHARLES DILKEThe Home Office Vote might be postponed—it having; been taken first by special arrangement on the Vote on Account—in order that we may discuss certain matters as to which inquiry is taking place. I therefore hope that it will not be included in the Votes taken next Friday.
§ MR. LAMBERTWhen will the Money Resolution for the Irish Local Government Bill be taken?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYThe money Resolution authorising the Irish Local Government Bill will be taken immediately before reaching Part 3 of the Bill. As to the Home Office Vote, the object of arranging the business of Supply was to give opportunity for discussing matters which had not received full discussion in the previous year, but the Home Office Vote has been discussed, and probably that may be postponed to a later date.
§ MR. JOHN REDMONDIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a notice on the Paper as to the financial relations between England and Ireland? It was put down at the request of a Conference of Members representing all parties in Ireland. I have to ask if the right hon. Gentleman can now give an undertaking to allow a day for the consideration of the subject at a reasonable period of the Session. If so, I am prepared to withdraw the Motion.
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYYes, Sir, I am prepared to find a day for the discussion of the subject of the financial relations between the two countries, but, of course, I cannot pledge myself as to the time. It is evident the Debate cannot take place before the termination of the Committee stage of the Irish Local Government Bill. I, however, desire to find a day as soon after that as possible. Before concluding this conversation about the business of the House, I wish to say that, after consultation with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Colonies, I think it would perhaps be best to fix finally that Friday week should be given up to the Colonial Office Vote.
§ The SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIESThe right hon. Gentleman has correctly stated the position. That was also my impression. But I would like to remind the House that I have given a pledge that I will not proceed with the very important work of the rearrangement of the administration of Rhodesia until the House has had an opportunity of discussing the subject. The proposals of the Government are before the House, and the Government are anxious that the opinion of the House regarding them shall be expressed. Unnecessary delay would be injurious. Yesterday the right hon. Gentleman the Leader of the Opposition pointed out to me there were reasons why it would be inconvenient to take the discussion so early as next Friday, and when I suggested Friday week I understood the right hon. Gentleman to say he thought there would be no objection. There is no necessity for absolutely fixing the day at this moment, but I should be very glad indeed if all sections of the House will agree that the important discussion on the administration of the company should not be very long postponed.
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYIt may perhaps be for the convenience of the House if I mention that on Thursday we shall take the Budget, on Friday Civil Service Estimates, Class 2, on Monday the Second Reading of the Criminal Evidence Bill. On Tuesday we shall commence the Committee stage of the Irish Local Government Bill.
§ MR. J. STUART (Shoreditch, Hoxton)Is the right hon. Gentleman able to say when the London University Bill will be taken?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYIt is obvious that that Bill cannot be taken until we have disposed of the Committee stage of the Irish Bill.