§ LORD CHARLES BERESFORD (Woolwich)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury if he will assure the House of Commons that no binding agreement shall be entered into between the British Government and the Atlantic Shipping Trust without such an agreement being submitted to Parliament for approval.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURIn answer to this Question of my noble friend, I have to say that I do not think it would be possible to negotiate upon this or any other subject if the proposed terms have to be publicly discussed. Of course, if an agreement involves expenditure of public money it must fall within the cognisance of the House, and in any case we are most anxious to take the House into our confidence as soon as possible.