VISCOUNT ELIBANKMy Lords, I beg to ask your Lordships' leave to postpone my Motion for Papers in regard to the serious state of British interests in China resulting from the war, until after the 1206 Motion standing on the Paper in the name of the noble Lord, Lord Snell. I am doing this at the desire of the noble Earl the Leader of the House and of the noble Viscount the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and for the convenience of debate, in order to enable my noble friend Viscount Halifax to reply not only to my Motion but to that of the noble Lord, Lord Snell, and to the Motion moved yesterday by the noble Lord, Lord Davies. As I understand it, the result of your Lordships agreeing to this will be that the Motion by the Lord Bishop of Chichester will be taken first and the noble Earl, Lord Plymouth, will reply. Lord Snell will next move his Motion, and after him the noble Marquess, Lord Crewe, will speak as Leader of the Liberals. Then I am to speak to the Motion which stands in my name without actually moving it. The debate then can roam over the general question of international relations and over the question of China, which stands in my name. With that explanation, I beg to ask your Lordships' leave to carry out that arrangement.
§ Moved, That leave be given to the Viscount Elibank to postpone his Motion until after the Motion of the Lord Snell.—(Viscount Elibank.)
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.