25 OCTOBER 1902, Page 2

On Wednesday in the House of Commons Mr. Gibson Bowles

asked the Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs whether a secret treaty existed between Great Britain and Germany ; and if so, whether his Majesty's Government proposed at some, and if so, at what, future time to com- municate its terms to Parliament. Lord Cranborne reply said :—" I am afraid I can only reply to any hon. friend to the same effect as in my answer upon the second reading of the Appropriation. Bill,—namely, that if there be such treaty, in the nature of the case I am precluded from com- municating its terms. I hope that even if he finds this answer unsatisfactory, he will recognise I can give no other." 31r. Bowles on this declared that the inevitable inference was that such a treaty existed.