§ MR. DARBY GRIFFITHsaid, he would beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether the Sultan has authorized the Pacha of Egypt to submit the questions at issue relative to the Suez Canal to the arbitration of the Emperor of the French; and, whether, among such questions considered to be at issue, the requirement of the supply of forced labour for the execution of the works of the Canal is presumed to be included?
§ VISCODNT PALMERSTONsaid, in reply, that all that the Government knew about the matter to which the hon. Member referred was that which was contained in the Moniteur, where it was announced that a Commission had been appointed by the Emperor of France, at the request or with the consent of the Pacha of Egypt, to arbitrate between the Lesseps Company and the Pacha. The Government had no official information on the matter, and therefore he could not say on what points the arbitration was to take place.