§ Mr. NEWMANasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been drawn to a speech delivered by the Speaker of the American 1248 House of Representatives on Thursday last, at Fremont, Nebraska, expressing his intention of contesting a forthcoming election for the position of President on the question of the annexation of Canada by the United States; whether such a threat to annex territories at present belonging to a nation with whom the Government of the United States is on friendly terms is in accordance with international usage; and whether he will instruct the British Ambassador at Washington to furnish him with a full report on the incident?
§ Mr. ACLANDI have seen a notice in the Press of the speech to which the hon. Member refers, but I gathered from the report that the proposal contained in the speech was not intended seriously. I have no doubt that His Majesty's representative at Washington will report on the matter if he considers it of sufficient importance.
§ Mr. NEWMANIn the hon. Gentleman's opinion is the Speaker of the American House of Representatives a Democratic candidate for the Presidency in the near future, a species of American Hunnable?
§ Mr. ACLANDI am not aware what species of person he belongs to.