HC Deb 22 October 1902 vol 113 cc470-1
MR. GIBSON BOWLES

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, whether a secret treaty exists between Great Britain and Germany; and, if so, whether His Majesty's Government propose at some, and, if so, at what future time, to communicate its terms to Parliament.

LORD CRANBORNE

I am afraid I can only reply to my hon. friend to the same effect as in my answer upon the Second Reading of the Appropriation Bill, namely, that if there be such treaty, in the nature of the case I am precluded from communicating its terms. I hope that even if he finds this answer unsatisfactory, he will recognise that I can give no other.

MR. GIBSON BOWLES

The inevitable inference from this is that there is such a treaty.