MR. J. HERBERT ROBERTSI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies, whether he will, at an early date, make a statement to Parliament as to the present position of questions relating to the French shore of the Newfoundland coast; whether his attention has been drawn to the unsatisfactory conditions imposed by existing Treaties between this country and France upon the fishing and other industries of our fellow subjects in that colony, and to the consequent serious injury caused to their trading operations; 51 and, whether, in view of the disposition now shown by the French authorities to reconsider the bearing of these Treaties, he will state whether the Government are taking steps to secure the readjustment of onr relations with France in respect to these Treaties.
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINI am not in a position to make any statement respecting the question of the French Treaty rights affecting part of the shore of Newfoundland, except that Her Majesty's Government have now under their consideration the report of a Commission appointed last autumn to inquire into the matter.
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINI cannot say at present.