§ Mr. HUNTasked whether, in view of the statement of the Prime Minister that as between the United States and the United Kingdom, whatever the gravity of the issue or the magnitude of the interests involved might be, the matters in dispute would be settled by arbitration, the Foreign Secretary could now say whether President Taft has agreed to submit the Monroe doctrine and the fortification and neutralisation of the Panama Canal to arbitration, if necessary; and whether President Taft has given any intimation that the American Senate must in the future retain the power of deciding whether any question shall go to arbitration or not?
§ Sir E. GREYI must ask the hon. Member not to raise hypothetical questions of this kind till the terms of an Arbitration Treaty are known, when he will be in a position to judge of its effect.
§ Mr. HUNTIn view of that very unsatisfactory answer, I beg to give notice that I shall at the end of questions move the Adjournment of the House in order to call attention to a matter of urgent National importance.
Mr. KINGCan the Foreign-Secretary state whether the newspaper reports as to the draft agreement which has been published this day can be viewed as authentic?
§ Sir E. GREYIt would be much better to wait until both Governments are in a position to make a definite statement in regard to the Treaty, rather than to make partial statements.
§ Mr. E. JARDINEMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether the United States Government has notified the British Government that in their opinion the Clayton-Bulwer Treaty has been voided?
§ Sir E. GREYI am not prepared to add question of that kind.