§ MR. LOUGH (Islington, W.)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether, as Article XII. of the Brussels Convention provides that the fulfillment
† See page 828.1405 of the convention is subordinated to the completion of the formalities and requirements established by the constitutional laws of each of the contracting parties, and Article IV. imposes the countervailing duties, and that provision is made for the convention not being completed by one of the contracting parties before February, 1903, he will consider the desirability of introducing any Bill that may be necessary in connection with this matter before the convention is ratified.
§ THE PRIME MINISTER AND FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR, Manchester, E.)As the hon. Gentleman is no doubt aware, the sanction of Parliament is not required for the ratification of this Treaty. I should have preferred to bring in legislation to give effect to it in the course of the present session, but that is quite out of the question, and, therefore, legislation must be deferred to a more convenient season.
§ MR. BRYCE (Aberdeen, S.)Am I right in understanding that the right hon. Gentleman does not intend either to introduce any legislation or to submit any resolution which would give the House an opportunity of expressing its opinion on this matter?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI think I have clearly said that we do propose to introduce a resolution.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURIt will not be a financial resolution in the sense of being required to be brought in in Committee of the House.