§ EARL GRANVILLE, in reference to a Motion on the Paper of the noble Earl (the Earl of Rosebery), who proposed to call attention to the proposed deportation of recidivists from France to the Western Pacific; and to move for Papers, said, he had already spoken to his noble Friend on the subject of the Motion of which he had given Notice. It was a subject of great importance; but he had urged on his noble Friend that, on the whole, it would be desirable that its discussion should be postponed.
THE EARL OF ROSEBERYsaid, he tad little difficulty whatever in acceding to the request of his noble Friend to postpone his Motion for a time. At the same time, he wished to observe that there was nothing in the Motion, or in what he intended to say, that could, in 1292 any way, interfere with the negotiations which he understood were in progress, or wound the just susceptibilities of any neighbouring Power. He only agreed to postpone his Motion, because he thought the course suggested by the noble Earl the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs was the one best calculated to gain the object they all had at heart; and he did so more heartily, because he believed an early opportunity would occur when the subject could be fully and fairly discussed, and without prejudice, and when the feeling of the House might be elicited as to a proposition which could not fail to have the greatest effects.
THE EARL OF CARNARVONsaid, the noble Earl the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs had not given the House the reasons which induced him to request his noble Friend to postpone the Motion. He hoped there was a substantial consideration for taking that course, and that it meant the very serious consideration of the subject by the Government, with a view of arriving at some definite and satisfactory understanding. He was aware that negotiations of an important character with the French Government were going on with the view of overcoming difficulties; and so long as those negotiations held out a reasonable promise of a successful issue, he should be sorry to offer any opposition. It was impossible to overrate the importance of the question—a question which, from a variety of reasons, ran the chance of not being fully appreciated in England. He trusted Her Majesty's Government were not blind to the extreme depth of feeling which existed upon the subject in Australia. If the postponement led to a regular understanding, he should not, in any degree, regret it; but, on the other hand, he hoped it was clearly understood that the matter was being entertained with a view to its settlement. He would be glad to know to what day the Motion was to be postponed?
§ EARL GRANVILLEsaid, the noble Earl opposite (the Earl of Carnarvon) seemed to think he had a monopoly of the knowledge of the importance of the subject. That was not so. The Government very well knew, and were agreed, that it was one of the most important subjects with regard to the Colonies; and it was for that reason that Her Majesty's Government thought, 1293 in dealing with it, they ought to be as prudent as possible. On this account he desired that it should be postponed in order that Papers might be completed. The noble Earl had asked some time ago about the diplomatic Correspondence. As a matter of fact, the Papers were not complete. He had been promised an answer from the French Government, which had not yet been received. He had been looking the matter up; and he might mention that he found that, up to the 31st of March, he had, through Lord Lyons, made no fewer than eight representations to the French Government.