§ Bill read 3a, with the Amendments.
§ LORD REDESDALEsaid that there was a clause in this Bill which he did not wish to sanction of his own accord. If the Government approved of this clause he presumed there would be an end of the matter, In all telegraph Bills for this country there was a provision giving Her Majesty's Government priority in the transmission of messages. Now, in the case at present before their lordships, both termini of the proposed telegraph would be within Her Majesty's dominions—namely, one end of the line would be in Her Majesty's kingdom of Ireland, and the other in Her Majesty's colony of Newfoundland; yet there was a clause in the Bill which gave the United States Government the same priority as that of Her Majesty's Government with regard to the transmission of messages. It was said that this equal right was owing to the fact that a joint guarantee had been given by the two Governments. He thought, however, it would have been far better policy on the part of Her Majesty's Government if they had either undertaken the whole guarantee themselves, and thus have obtained free and sole control over the connecting line; of telegraph, or have invited our own colonies to participate in that guarantee, rather than have allowed a foreign Government to join in making it. At the same time, if the clause in question had the sanction of Her Majesty's Ministry, it was not his intention to object to it.
§ EARL GRANVILLEsaid, this telegraph was intended to connect two great countries, and, as the two Governments had gone hand in hand with regard to the guarantee, it seemed only reasonable that both, should have the same rights as to transmitting messages.
§ Further Amendments made; Bill passed, and sent to the Commons.
§ House adjourned at half-past Nine o'clock 'till To-morrow, half-past Ten o'clock.