§ Mr. MACKINDERasked if the right hon. Baronet will state when the Italian Government was first approached with a view to the re-negotiation of our Most-Favoured-Nation Treaty with Italy in order to free the Australian Commonwealth from the obligations of that Treaty; at whose suggestion the Government of Italy was approached, and with what result; and whether there have been any further communications other than those summarised in his speech at the Imperial Conference of 1911?
§ Sir E. GREYHis Majesty's Government approached the Italian Government in December, 1909, at the request of the Australian Government, with a view to enabling the Commonwealth to withdraw from the Treaty apart from the United Kingdom. These negotiations were not successful, but the Italian Government are at the present time being again approached on the subject, in accordance with the undertaking given by His Majesty's Government at the recent Imperial Conference.
§ Mr. MACKINDERWill the right hon. Gentleman be willing to lay the dispatches mentioned in the first part of the question?
§ Sir E. GREYWith the Italian Government?
§ Mr. MACKINDERYes.
§ Sir E. GREYI will see whether there are dispatches which can be laid, but I cannot promise without looking at them.
§ Mr. JAMES HOPECan the right hon. Gentleman say why the negotiations were not successful?
§ Sir E. GREYThey were not successful because no agreement was come to at the time.
§ Mr. JAMES HOPEMay I ask why no agreement was come to?
§ Sir E. GREYFor the usual reason that the two parties were not agreed.
§ Mr. JAMES HOPECan he say for what reasons the Italian government did not agree to the proposals of the right hon. Gentleman?