238 WITH MR. CHAMBERLAIN IN THE 



though it used to be a rule of diplomacy that it was 

 a radical mistake to treat with the United States just 

 before a Presidential election, when there probably 

 would not be a majority in the Senate to ratify a 

 treaty. His objections were entirely of a financial 

 character. Diplomacy cost this country £241,000 

 in purely political matters ; and besides this there 

 was the Consular service. In the United States 

 we had an eminent representative who received a 

 salary larger than that of the Prime Minister. 

 Obviously, the permanent legation, which costs 

 about £8000 a year, ought to have negotiated this 

 treaty. Last year there was the mission of Sir H. 

 Drummond Wolff, which involved a large expendi- 

 ture. He objected to these missions as not being 

 necessary, and also to their excessive cost. The 

 House was rather surprised when so large an amount 

 as 3^3 900 was asked for the Washington mission. 

 They were more surprised when they were told 

 that this was not all. 



Sir J. Fergusson — That was a mistake ; the 

 vote of £3900 covers the whole expenditure. 



Mr. Labouchere said that the sum was itself so 

 monstrous that more would have been too out- 

 rageous. Mr. Chamberlain (** Order, order." 



The hon. member then turned to Mr. CoUings, 

 amid laughter.) The right hon. member for 

 Birmingham's travelling expenses would be £180. 

 His hon. friend said that would be second-class — 

 (laughter) — but it was not so — it would be first- 

 class. Suppose the sum were £190. The right 

 hon. gentleman left on October 29 and returned on 



