HC Deb 16 June 1903 vol 123 cc1058-9
MR. MANSFIELD (Lincolnshire, Spalding)

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether his attention has been drawn to a cablegram from the Governor of New South Wales to the effect that the colony expresses great satisfaction at the declaration by the British Government that every self-governing colony shall be secured in the free exercise of its right to enter into close trade relations with the mother country; and, if so, will he state whether a similar declaration has been communicated to the other Colonial Governments; and will he undertake to lay upon the Table the text of all the communications which have passed between Colonial Governments and the Colonial Office in relation thereto.

THE PRIME MINISTER AND FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR,) Manchester, E.

I am not sure, but I rather expect that the hon. Gentleman did not hear the answer which I gave to the Leader of the Opposition on this subject last Monday.† I then stated that I was not aware to what declarations the telegram mentioned in the Question referred. I also stated that perhaps those responsible for the telegram or message contained in the telegram, had in view the declared policy of His Majesty's Government. No telegrams, I have ascertained since, have been sent by the Colonial Office; but I would read this extract from a despatch of Lord Salisbury in 1897 when he denounced the Belgian and German treaties. He instructed † See page 955. our Ambassadors to say to the Governments concerned— That the object was to remove a barrier against the internal fiscal arrangements of the British Empire which is inconsistent with the close ties of commercial intercourse which subsist, and which should be consolidated between the mother country and the colonies. I do not know if it be so, but I think it is quite possible that was the statement which the Colonial Governor had in view.

MR. JOHN ELLIS (Nottinghamshire, Rushcliffe)

Have any steps been taken to ascertain what declaration the Governor of New South Wales referred to.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I have certainly taken no steps, and I see no reason why steps should be taken.

MR. EDMUND ROBERTSON (Dundee)

Will Papers relating to the denunciation of the treaty be presented?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

That is a question which should be addressed to the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. I have not the date in my mind.