§ MR. R. HARCOURT (Montrose Burghs)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any official information showing that the Russian Council of Ministers has sanctioned the introduction of a Bill giving to inhabitants of villages the right to close existing public-houses, to prohibit the opening of new ones, and to limit the hours of sale, by resolution of the local council; and, if so, whether Sir A. Nicholson will be instructed to make representations as to the evil example likely to be set to moderate and reasonable temperance reformers in this country by these ultra-democratic and faddist proposals.
§ SIR EDWARD GREYI have not received any information to this effect, though I have no reason or wish to discredit that on which my hon. friend has founded his Question. I should, however, deprecate any representations such as he suggests. We can always profit by the example of other countries in liquor legislation, though whether this can best be done by imitation or by avoidance my hon. friend must rely upon the wisdom of Parliament to decide in each particular case.