Question
asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, Whether the stores required by the Admiralty are purchased or contracted for through the agency of brokers, or by open competiton, or by application to selected lists of merchants and tradesmen, or by all the three modes; and, whether he is willing to lay upon the Table of the House, or to consent to a Return of the names of the Brokers usually applied to; of the title and place of publication of the Newspapers in which advertisements for Tenders are inserted; and, of the names of the selected Merchants and Tradesmen applied to in each of the several classes of Stores required?
in reply, said, that stores were purchased in three ways—through brokers, and by application to selected lists of merchants, but mainly by open competition. Information on the subject had been laid before the recent Committee on Contracts, and hon. Members would be able to refer to the Evidence, as it would be printed and placed on the Table.
Railway Communication With India—Question
asked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether, in view of M. Lesseps' proposed Railway to connect Russia with India by a Central Asian Railway, Her Majesty's Government are disposed to re-consider their policy as to co-operating with the Turkish Government for the purpose of obtaining a shorter and an alternative route between England and India by the construction of a Railway to connect the Mediterranean with the Persian Gulf; and whether, in furtherance of that object, they are disposed to re-consider the Report of the Select Committee of this House on that subject, so far as it related to the desirability of that object being attained?
in reply, said, he was prevented, by indisposition, from hearing the recent discussion on the Euphrates Valley route, and must be guided mainly by what appeared to be the decisive opinion of the House pronounced on division. Since that time the Government had kept their eyes open to intelligence coming from the East, and they would continue to do so; but they had not seen it to be their duty to take any step in consequence of that intelligence, which would be in contravention of the opinion expressed by the House.
gave Notice that in consequence of the answer he had received, and seeing the daily increasing gravity of the question, owing to the plans of M. Lesseps on the one hand and Baron Reuter on the other, he should call attention to the subject on as early a day as possible next Session, and move for a Select Committee.
Spain—Recognition Of The Spanish Republic—Question
asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether the Government are prepared to recognize the Spanish Republic now that it has been formerly ratified by the new constituent Cortes?
Sir, Her Majesty's Government have received no official intimation from the Spanish Government on the subject, and I am therefore not in a position to give any reply to the hon. Member's Question. When any official communication is received Her Majesty's Government will lose no time in taking the matter into consideration.
In consequence of the reply I have just received, I beg to give Notice that on an early day I shall move an Address to the Crown praying that Her Majesty's Government be directed to recognize the Spanish Republic.