§ MR. BOLAND (Kerry, S.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that a regency is about to be established in the Grand Duchy of Luxemburg, owing to 690 the precarious state of health of the reigning Grand Duke; and whether, seeing that England was one of the signatory Powers to the Treaty of London of 1867, guaranteeing the neutrality of the Grand Duchy, and that a protest against the proposed regency has been lodged by a claimant to the throne in the eventuality of the death of the present Grand Duke, and that this protest is now under consideration by the Chamber of Representatives of the Duchy, the British Government will use or offer its good offices to effect an amicable solution of the question and to safeguard the interests of the lawful heir, in conformity with the constitution and with the Nassau Family Pact of 1783, in which house the crown of Luxemburg was hereditary.
§ THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. RUNCIMAN,for Sir EDWARD GREY) Dewsbury;It is not, so far as my right hon. friend is aware, proposed to establish a regency during the lifetime of the Grand Duke. The Bill now under the consideration of the Chamber of Deputies of the Grand Duchy of Luxemburg regulates the succession, and the regency during a minority, together with matters relative to the patrimony of the reigning house. No protest has so far been received against the provisions of this Bill, and my right hon. friend is not therefore in a position to anticipate what the effect of one would be.