§ THE EARL OF ELLENBOROUGHsaid, that as Her Majesty's Government had consented last night to lay on the table of the other House copies of all Correspondence with the French Government relating to the importation into the French colonies of labourers from British India, he presumed there would be no difficulty in laying the same papers before their Lordships, and he would, therefore, move for them at once. He concluded that, as the Government had thus shown their inclination to allow Parliament to form a judgment on the provisions of the Treaty be- 196 fore it was concluded, they would not have the least objection to postponing the conclusion of the Treaty at least for some little time after the papers had been laid on the table. The noble Earl then moved an address for
Copies or Extracts of the Correspondence between Her Majesty's Government and the Government of France with respect to legalising the Exportation of Natives of British India as Indentured Labourers to French Colonies.
LORD WODEHOUSEsaid, there would of course, be no objection to produce the Correspondence; but he must remind the noble Earl that it had never been the custom of the Crown in negotiating treaties to consult Parliament as to whether a Treaty should be concluded or not. He could not, therefore, give any pledge like that which the noble Earl seemed desirous of obtaining.
§ THE EARL OF ELLENBOROUGHsaid, he could not understand for what other purpose the papers had been granted before the conclusion of the negotiations. Of course, after the Treaty was made, the papers were generally laid on the table to enable Parliament to judge whether the Government had acted well or ill; but it could not be of much use to produce them before the Treaty was made if their opinion was not to be expressed until it was too late to be of use.
§ Motion agreed to.