§ MR. CHARLES MCARTHUR (Liverpool, Exchange)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether an answer has been received to the representations made by His Majesty's Government at Washington with respect to the proposed reciprocity treaty between Cuba and the United States; and whether he has any information which he can give to the House on the subject.
* THE UNDER SECRETARY FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Lord CRANBORNB,) RochesterYes, Sir; the answer was to the effect that the conclusion of the treaty was based on the prerogative of independent nations to enter into such compacts for their mutual benefit.
MR. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis)Is it a fact that the treaty has been ratified by the United States Senate?
§ * LORD CRANBORNESubject, I understand, to an Amendment requiring the approval of the House of Representatives to the Convention before it becomes operative.