§ 48. Mr. R. GWYNNEasked the Prime Minister whether the Lord Chief Justice has negotiated, on behalf of the Government, the joint purchase, with the Government of the United States, of 100,000,000 ounces of silver in instalments over a period; and, if so, will he state the price agreed to be paid, the amount of the instalments, and the period over which the transactions are to continue?
§ Mr. BALDWINDiscussions are now in progress with the United States Govern- 1348 ment with the object of the acquisition by them of silver produced in the United States of America, of which a portion would be placed at the disposal of the Government of India, largely to pay for Indian produce required in America. A settlement has not yet been reached.
§ Mr. GWYNNESeeing the great financial importance of this matter, will the House have an opportunity of discussing it before the settlement is finally agreed upon?