§ MR. JAMES O'CONNOR () Wicklow, W.I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affair's whether he has seen the statement made some days ago in the Senate at Madrid by the Spanish Minister, Senor Silvela, to the effect that before the war with the United States in 1898 the British Government had consented to let Spain have 8,500 shells which had been manufactured at the Maxim factory in Plasencia, Biscay: and whether Spain accepted the offer: and, if not, can he, state what has become of the shells.
§ MR. JAMES O'CONNORWill the right hon. Gentleman inquire, as the Standard has declared that the statement was made in the Senate at Madrid?