HC Deb 12 May 1904 vol 134 cc1186-7
MR. FLYNN

I desire to ask leave to move the adjournment of the House in order to call attention to a definite matter of urgent public importance—namely, the announcement just made that the Tibetan expedition has been ordered to Lhasa.

* THE DEPUTY-SPEAKER

I think the Motion of the hon. Member is covered by one appearing in the Order-book in the name of the hon. Member for Hampstead and asserting that "it is not desirable to send an armed Mission to a friendly State in order to secure the fulfilment of a treaty."

MR. FLYNN

May I submit that my Motion is not covered by that of the hon. Member for Hampstead, because the expedition to Lhasa has only just been sanctioned. It is a new and unexpected development of the policy of the Government, and in direct contradiction to the statement of the Prime Minister.

MR. LOUGH

May I also point out that the Motion of the hon. Member for Hampstead refers to an expedition going into a friendly State. The hon. Member for Cork wishes to raise the question of the advance of an expedition already in the friendly State.

* THE DEPUTY - SPEAKER

The greater contains the less. The Motion of the hon. Member for Hampstead takes a wider view than that of the hon. Member for North Cork—that is all.

MR. LAMBERT

Will the First Lord of the Treasury give a day for the discussion of the new policy?

* THE DEPUTY-SPEAKER

The hon. Member must give notice of that Question.