MR. GIBSON BOWLESI beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury, have His Majesty's Government now completed the agreement they had come to on 30th September, 1902, with the American International Mercantile Marine Association, and have they completed the Agreement with the Cunard Company for subsidies to those two bodies; and in view of the delays that have occurred, can he now undertake that these agreements shall be laid upon the Table of this House, and an adequate 1162 opportunity be afforded for their discussion within any definite time.
§ MR A. J. BALFOURThe first of the agreements mentioned by the hon. Member is not yet finally settled. The second only awaits the approval of the shareholders of the Cunard Company, who have to be consulted as to the necessary changes in the Articles of Association. I bear in mind the pledge, which I have more than once given, that an opportunity shall be given for discussion.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI am afraid not. The Government are only one of the parties to negotiations, and we cannot fix the time when these negotiations are likely to be brought to a successful issue.
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSON Dundee)In what form will the right hon. Gentleman take the opinion of the House?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI cannot say without further consideration, but I do not think there should be any difficulty in finding a proper method of doing so.