§ MR. BONAR LAW (Camberwell, Dulwich)I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Paper on International Trade, by Professor Marshall, just published as a Parliamentary 104 Paper, was written at the request of the Treasury in 1903; and, if so, whether he will invite an economist who is opposed to the system of free imports to write a Memorandum on the same subject, so that this country may have the opportunity, with the sanction and at the expense of the Government, of studying a scientific examination of the question from both sides.
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. LLOYD-GEORGE,) Carnarvon BoroughsAs regards the first part of the Question, I think I cannot do better than refer the hon. Member to the letter from Mr. Marshall which appeared in The Times of yesterday, in which Mr. Marshall explained the origin of the Memorandum and the causes which led to its publication. The Memorandum was prepared for the late Government and was only issued owing to the request of the hon. Member, and I think it would be establishing an undesirable precedent if, by inviting another economist to furnish a rejoinder, I were to initiate a controversy at the public expense.
§ MR. BONAR LAWIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the point in regard to which I challenged him is not even referred to in Professor Marshall's Memorandum?
§ MR. LLOYD-GEORGEI do not think that is so. I only referred to the document to quote from it, and I was bound by the Rules of the House, if requested to do so, to lay it on the Table and publish it.
§ MR. BONAR LAWIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that I made no demand for the document? The right hon. Gentleman made a statement on the subject.
§ * MR. SPEAKERThe hon. Gentleman is not entitled to make a speech.
§ MR. BONAR LAWMay I put it in this way? If I can convince the right hon. Gentleman—[Cries of "Order!"]
§ * MR. SPEAKERThat is commencing a hypothetical question.
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN (Worcestershire, E.)May I ask the right hon. Gentleman with reference to that part of his Answer which says that the Paper was prepared at the request of the late Government, whether he is not aware that it was prepared for an individual Member of the late Government, and was not circulated to the late Government, and was not left on record at the Treasury by the Minister for whom it was prepared.
§ MR. LLOYD-GEORGEThat is certainly not my information, and if the Members of the bench opposite want the whole of the record of the transaction I can easily publish it, but I can only do that on their responsibility.
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINMy information is that it is not a record of the late Ministry, and was not circulated to members of the late Government. It was not left on record.