HC Deb 03 June 1904 vol 135 cc720-1
MR. RUNCIMAN (Dewsbury)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Colony of Newfoundland is expected to derive any benefit from the Convention recently concluded between England and France; and what contribution the Colony of Newfoundland will make towards the cost of carrying out that Convention.

(Answered by Mr. Secretary Lyttelton.)In reply to the first part of the hon. Member's Question, I may quote a Resolution passed by the House of Assembly of Newfoundland on the 27th of April last: "That this House is of opinion that the Convention entered into on the 8th of April, 1904, between His Majesty's Government and the Republic of France in relation to the rights of French citizens on the Treaty shore of Newfoundland is one which is, and will be, for the material advantage of the Colony." In reply to the second part, I have to refer the hon. Member to the text of the Bill now before the House, which proposes that the cost of carrying out the Convention shall be defrayed from moneys provided by Parliament.