1 FEBRUARY 1902, Page 2

On the resumption of the debate on the Address in

the Commons on Monday afternoon, Sir Joseph Dimsdale (the Lord Mayor) moved an amendment calling for an inquiry into the telephone agreement. We have dealt at length with the whole matter elsewhere, and will only say here that Mr. Austen Chamberlain's reply on behalf of the Treasury, in a Very able and, on the whole, convincing speech, was that the bargain made was the best and fairest possible. The amendment was lost by 189 to 227, or a majority of 88. Three Conservatives voted with the minority, but in view of the assurances of Mr. Austen Chamberlain, the remainder of the City Members either abstained or voted with the Government: