§ MR. PERKS (Lincolnshire, Louth)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can state what is the present position of the negotiations between His Majesty's Government and the Government of the United States for the establishment of an inter-oceanic waterway between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans; whether there has been any reply to Lord Lansdowne's despatch of 22nd February, 1901; and whether the provisions of the Clayton-Bulwer Treaty are still in force.
§ VISCOUNT CRANBORNEThere has been no formal reply to Lord Lansdowne's despatch of 22nd February, but unofficial communications between His Majesty's Government and the Government of the United States have taken place through Lord Pauncefote, who is at present in this country. The Clayton-Bulwer Treaty is still in force.