MR. CATHCART WASONI beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury if, during the process of inquiry into the question of preferential tariffs and retaliatory duties, His Majesty's Government will furnish a full account of the total cost of Imperial Defence, including India; and also the cost of the Consular and Diplomatic Service, showing the cost to the mother country, to India, and to the different Crown and self-governing colonies, of Defence and of Consular and Diplomatic Services.
§ THE PRIME MINISTER AND FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR,) Manchester, E.I do not see very clearly what connection there is between the information asked for in the 1414 inquiry and preferential tariffs, and I learn there would be considerable difficulty in preparing the Return of the kind desired; but the hon. Gentleman will find a good deal of information on the subject on pages 42 and 43 of the Blue-book which gives an account of the Conference between the Colonial Premiers and the representatives of His Majesty's Government.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThe Blue-book is published under authority.