Sir W. Lawson last Saturday asked the Chancellor of the
Ex- chequer why the Fleet had been sent to Besika Bay, and repeated the question later in the evening in the form of a motion. Sir Stafford Northcote at first told him, with humorous conciseness, that the fleet went to Besika Bay because that was a good situa- tion for the fleet, and afterwards explained that he meant that Besika Bay enabled the Admiral to communicate rapidly with the Government and with Constantinople. Ho refused to enter into a discussion on foreign policy, but declared that the Government had made its meaning as clear in the papers given to the House as WAS ever done in diplomacy, and denied that the despatch of the fleet meant either "a hint, a warning, or a threat" to either of the parties to the war. In fact, Sir Stafford Northoote would give no explanation whatever, except that the fleet was moved on the responsibility of the Government, probably the beat answer in a Parlia- mentary sense that he could give. It does not explain much to the public, but then the public requires no explanation.
