HC Deb 13 February 1902 vol 102 cc1246-7
MR. NORMAN (Wolverhampton S.)

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Agreement between Great Britain and Japan, signed on 30th January, was communicated to the United States Government before publication; and, if so, whether the United States Government has expressed any opinion upon it. In putting the Question the hon. Member said: May I invite the noble Lord to say that my original Question on this subject was not put, as has been widely stated, by any arrangement with the Foreign Office or with himself. It is, of course, well known to Members of the House that under our Party arrangements that would not be the case. Still, it has been influentially stated outside to be the case.

The following Question also appeared on the Paper:

MR. O'MARA (Kilkenny, S.)

To ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the terms or substance of the Anglo-Japanese Treaty of 30th January, 1902, have been communicated to the Government of the United States, and whether this Government has declared its adhesion thereto.

* THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Lord CRANBORNE,) Rochester

The hon. Member is probably referring to Questions which passed between us with regard to the relations between this country and America at the time of the Cuban war. No doubt what he says is quite correct. There was no such arrangement between us as to the putting of Questions. In reply to the Question on the Paper, I have to say that the substance of the Agreement was communicated to the United States Government before publication. That Government have not yet expressed any opinion on it.

MR. NORMAN

I will take the earliest opportunity of calling attention to this matter.