§ THE PRIME MINISTER (The MARQUESS of SALISBURY)I understand that at the opening of the Sitting, the noble Lord opposite thought that I was guilty of discourtesy to this House because I did not make a statement, whereas a statement has been made by the Under Secretary of State in the other House. But Sir William Harcourt had given private notice to my right hon. Friend that he desired to ask him a Question; he did ask him, and the Question was answered. If the noble Lord had gone through the same ceremony, I should have been perfectly prepared to answer him.
THE EARL OF ROSEBERYI do not think that quite exhausts the facts of the case. The Under Secretary promised that he would make a statement to-day on the subject which has attracted universal attention—the advance to Dongola. We were under the hope, therefore, that the Secretary of State would not treat us as unworthy of a similar statement, and we hurried down with that object. If the noble Marquess does not wish to make a statement, he is, of course, quite right in pleading that no previous notice has been given.
§ THE PRIME MINISTERWe are not in the same position as the House of Commons. There the Speaker would not allow the statement to be made on Motion to go into Committee on the Army Estimates. I shall be glad to answer any question of which the noble Lord may give me notice, but I have no statement now to make.
THE EARL OF ROSEBERYWe are not under the same restraint as the House of Commons. There they have a Speaker; we have no Speaker here, and the noble Marquess might have a freer opportunity of making a statement.
§ House adjourned at a quarter past Six o'clock, till To-morrow a quarter past Ten o'clock.