* MR. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury when it is proposed to exchange the ratifications of the Convention between England and France of 8th April, 1904, relative to Newfoundland, the Gambia, the Isles de Los, the Niger and Lake Chad; in case the Convention should not be ratified, will the stipulations it contains in Articles IV. to VIII. as to the Gambia, the Isles de Los, the Niger, and Lake Chad become inoperative as well as the stipulations in Articles I. to III. as to Newfoundland; and have any steps been, or are any being, taken to carry out the Articles IV. to VIII.
§ THE PRIME MINISTER AND FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR,) Manchester, E.As soon as the necessary legislation has been passed between the two countries steps will be taken with a view to ratification as contemplated in Article IX. of the Convention. The Answer to the second Question is in the affirmative—that is to say, the stipulations will become inoperative. The Answer to tile third Question is in the negative, no steps have been taken.
* MR. GIBSON BOWLESI beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury are the two Declarations, one respecting Egypt and Morocco and the other concerning Siam, Madagascar, and the New Hebrides, essential parts of the Agreement with France represented by those two Declarations and by the Convention of 8th April. 1904, relating to Newfoundland the Gambia, and the Niger; and is it understood between His Majesty's Government and the French Government that the two Declarations will retain their effect and be carried into execution even in case the Convention fails to be ratified.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI do not think it will be very desirable to discuss a contingency which is not, I think, probable—which I firmly believe will not arise.