§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYMy Lords, on behalf of my noble friend, Lord MIDLETON, I beg to ask His Majesty's Government whether they are prepared to lay before Parliament Papers giving the negotiations with the Governments of America, France, Italy, Germany, and Russia which preceded and led up to the Genoa Conference, and in particular showing the efforts made to induce this American Government to take part in the Conference, and ally conditions or reservations under which the consent of the French Government was obtained.
THE EARL OF CRAWFORDMy Lords, I think my noble friend, Lord Midleton, is not aware that the Resolutions of the Supreme Council at Cannes in January last formed the basis of the Genoa Conference. The text of those Resolutions has already been laid before Parliament in Command Paper 1621, and I would refer my noble friend to it. The decisions regarding the issue of invitations to the various participating Powers are given in that Paper. Since then further Papers, including the reports by the economic and financial experts of the Powers responsible for summoning the Conference, Command Paper 1650 and Command Paper 1667, have been laid. The Government doubts the expediency of laying any further Papers at this moment.
§ TILE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYIt was, of course, a perfectly usual practice in 871 the days when most of us remember the Foreign Office that after any great event a Blue-book should be laid giving the correspondence. I rose again for the purpose of giving Notice, on my noble friend's behalf, that on an early date after the recess he will move for these Papers.