§ SIR W. HARCOURT (Monmouthshire, W.)I wish to ask the Leader of the House what arrangements he proposes to make to-night with reference to the report of the Foreign Office Vote. I think that he will feel, and that the House will feel, that after the important declaration of policy by the Government made yesterday in another place, there ought to be at the earliest possible moment a statement in this House of the policy of the Government. I hope, therefore, that the right honourable Gentleman will either to-night or at the earliest possible opportunity explain to the House the views of Her Majesty's Government, so that there may be a discussion upon them. In answer to a Question on a former occasion the right honourable Gentleman told us that the Government were not then in a position to make any statement of policy, but since then a very full statement has been made in another place. I hope the right honourable Gentleman will be able to make arrangements, either to-night or at the earliest possible day, which will enable the House to fairly and fully discuss that statement.
MR. PATRICK O'BRIENWill the right honourable Gentleman say when he will take the Ordnance Vote? Will he assure us an opportunity of discussing it?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR) Manchester, E.In answer to the honourable Mem- 869 ber for Kilkenny, I am afraid I can give no assurance of the kind. With regard to the question of the Chancellor of the Exchequer—I mean the Leader of the Opposition—I must remind the House that there is no evening, so far as I know, on which we shall have any chance of taking the Report of the Foreign Office Vote. If we do not have a discussion on it to-night, I think the House might defer the discussion until the Second Reading of the Appropriation Bill. That would be a very fitting and convenient opportunity for such a Debate as the right honourable Gentleman desires. But I understand that the objection to that course is, that by the time we reach that period of the Session a good many honourable Gentlemen who wish to speak will have taken themselves away to happier regions. I quite agree with the right honourable Gentleman that, often as we have discussed the Foreign Office Vote during the Session, we should have one more discussion of it, partly in view of the importance of the statement of the Prime Minister last night, and partly in view of the great interest taken in it by honourable Members. I should be glad to begin the Report of Supply at an earlier hour than midnight, which I stated yesterday would be the latest hour at which it would be taken, but I hope if it is taken earlier the House will assist us to get some Votes through first. I suppose that it will be understood that if the discussion is taken to-night no attempt to raise a first-class Debate on the same topic will be made on the Second Reading of the Appropriation Bill. Of course, I do not ask for any pledge on that point, as it is not in the power of the right honourable Gentleman, nor anybody else, to bind individual Members.
§ SIR W. HARCOURTI think that to postpone the discussion of the policy of the Government for a week or so would really not be placing the House in the proper position with reference to the statement made in another place. Therefore I hope the House may be able to get on with business, and by dinner-time, or very soon after, be ready to take up the discussion of a matter of such great importance.
§ VISCOUNT CRANBORNEIs it reasonable to put pressure on the House unless there is some understanding that there will not be two Debates on foreign affairs? It would be most unreasonable that honourable Members who are interested in other matters should be put off to the Appropriation Bill in order that the Opposition may have two Debates on foreign affairs.
§ SIR W. HARCOURTI cannot enter into any engagement of the sort. The House is entitled on the Appropriation Bill to discuss almost any subject.
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYI certainly agree, to a certain extent, with the right honourable Gentleman that an engagement or undertaking can hardly be made. There is no power to control the action of individual Members, but I may remind my noble. Friend that it rests with the Speaker who shall take part in the Debate on the Appropriation Bill.
MR. J. WALTON (Yorks, W.R., Barnsley)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury, with regard to the statement made in the House of Lords yesterday, whether he will afford the House an opportunity before the end of the Session of considering the question of the advisability of advancing British commercial interests in China by guarantees on the part of Her Majesty's Government in connection with railway enterprise, undertaken either by the Chinese Government or by British capitalists?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYIf the honourable Gentleman had done me the honour to listen to the answer I have been endeavouring to give to the Leader of the Opposition, he would have seen that I have already said everything I can say on the subject.
§ MR. GEDGEWith reference to what fell just now from the Leader of the House—while, of course, we should cheerfully acquiesce in any decision come to by the Speaker as to the order in which we speak—are we to understand that the Speaker will not allow a Debate on foreign affairs?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYI said nothing of the kind, It 871 would be grossly impertinent for me to suggest any interference with the Speaker's discretion. It rests entirely with him.
MR. T. M. HEALYWill the Irish Local Government Bill be the first order to-morrow?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYYes, Sir.