MR. GIBSON BOWLESI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in accepting the invitation to the forthcoming conference to consider the possibility of limiting armaments, Her Majesty's Government propose to adopt the course followed by Lord Derby in 1874, by instructing its delegate not to entertain in any shape, directly or indirectly, anything relating to maritime operations or naval warfare, and not to be led into any discussion which may, however remotely, affect those operations or that warfare; and whether he can state generally what conditions; if any, have been made by Her Majesty's Government in accepting the invitation to this conference, and what steps, if any, have been taken to secure themselves against the adoption of any conclusions which might be calculated to impair the future development or the present exercise of the naval power of Great Britain in time of war?
§ MR. BRODRICKThe second circular of the Russian Government in connection with this question, recently published, contained certain suggestions, but no definite programme has yet been proposed. It is still under the consideration of Her Majesty's Government. No answer to it has yet been sent, and no statement can be made at present on the subject, but further papers will be laid as soon as may be.