MR. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury can he now state the details of the agreement which had been come to on 30th September last between His Majesty's Government and Mr. Pierpont Morgan respecting the use in time of war of the ships of the International Mercantile Marine Association, and also between His Majesty's Government and the Cunard Company to lend to that Company the money required for the construction of two 24- or 25-knot ships, and also in addition to pay the Company £150,000 annually for twenty years. Can he state the cost of the two ships in question. In view of the delays which have occurred in laying before Parliament the formal documents embodying these agreements, and in affording to this House the promised opportunity 939 for discussing them, will he now fix a definite date when that discussion will be taken. And, in view of the decisions come to by His Majesty's Government on 11th November last that these two agreements were so closely bound together as to make it necessary to submit them together to Parliament, and of the further decision come to on 23rd February last that one of them was not open to reconsideration, do His Majesty's Government propose to execute the formal agreements without affording this House any opportunity of discussing their terms.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThe formal agreement with the Combine is in course of execution, and will be laid before Parliament with the agreement with the Cunard Company. There are, however, some details in connection with this latter agreement which are still to be settled; and until both agreements can be laid upon the Table, I do not think it would be possible for me to say anything about them or fix a date for the discussion. Meantime, matters will be expedited.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI should rather deprecate doing so until the agreements are in the possession of hon. Members.
MR. GIBSON BOWLESBut considering the great delay that has taken place will the right hon. Gentleman try to expedite matters so that we may consider them shortly?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThe delay has been longer than I could have desired, but I do not think it amounts to a degree of delay of which the House has a right or desire to complain. I do not think, however, it will be much longer extended.