§ MR. PROVANDI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs when he will lay upon the Table a copy of the dispatch sent to the German Government, spontaneously intimating to them that we would not call in question their rights or interest in the province of Shantung or lay down railway communication from Wei-hai-Wei to he interior, and also the reply of the German Government thereto?
§ MR. PROVANDMay I say that the right honourable Gentleman said it was published in the newspapers, and may I ask whether we are to have the dispatch laid on the Table here or are we to content ourselves with what appears in the newspapers?
MR. CURZONI do not at all accept the interpretation put by the honourable Gentleman either upon my previous answer or upon the facts of the case, and I have nothing to add to what I have already said.
§ MR. PROVANDI wish to ask whether we are to have a copy of this important dispatch presented to this House or not? Will the right honourable Gentleman say that? If so, when? If not, will he say why we are to be refused a copy?
MR. CURZONThat is exactly the Question I have twice answered in this House and which the First Lord of the Treasury answered on a previous occasion. I must protest against the action of the honourable Member in putting three times a Question which has already been twice answered.
§ MR. PROVANDI beg to say that I will bring it before the House again; that I have not asked this Question three times; and that I am asking it for the first time, because I received an evasive—
§ MR. SPEAKEROrder, order! The right honourable Gentleman has said that he declines to answer further.
§ MR. W. REDMOND (Clare, E.)Arising out of this Question, may I ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he will—
§ MR. SPEAKEROrder, order! The honourable Member cannot put a Question to one Minister arising out of a Question addressed to another Minister.
§ MR. W. REDMONDI beg to give notice that I shall put the Question down.