§ MR. MAJOR ANSTRUTHER-GRAY (St. Andrews Burghs)I beg to ask the 1588 Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of MR. Deakin's statement, the Commonwealth was neither invited to submit proposals to the Conference, nor even informed of its nature or progress, or enabled to make an effective suggestion to its conclusions, or in fact was consulted in respect to it in any particular, it is proposed to review the New Hebrides Convention after consultation with the Governments of Australia and New Zealand.
§ THE UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (MR. CHURCHILL, Manchester, N.W.)The New Hebrides Convention was discussed with MR. Deakin and Sir J. Ward during the Colonial Conference. With regard to the conduct of the negotiations which led up to the Convention of the 20th October last, I have to refer the hon. and gallant Member to the Secretary of State's despatches of the 16th November and 7th March last.
§ MR. MAJOR ANSTRUTHER-GRAYMay I ask if, in the face of MR. Deakin's words quoted in the Question, the right hon. Gentleman is prepared to qualify his statement that the Colonial Governments were fully consulted?
§ MR. CHURCHILLI do not think that is the exact expression I used. I should like an opportunity of looking them up, but so far as my recollection serves me I think there is no reason to modify what I said.