MR. OTWATasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, When the Papers relating to Egyptian affairs will be delivered; and, why the Copies of the Firman promised, at Whitsuntide have not yet been delivered? He should like also to take this opportunity of asking the hon. Gentleman, Whether the Government have yet received any intelligence as to the prohibition of Nubar Pasha's return to Egypt?
§ MR. BOURKE,in reply, said, he must ask the hon. Member to give Notice of the latter part of the Question, which he should be happy to answer on Monday. In reference to the Question on the Paper, on the 30th of June, in answer to a Question put by his hon. Friend, he said he thought it would be better to present the Firman as a separate Paper, and he requested his hon. Friend to confer privately with him on the subject; but he had not had the advantage of that conference.
§ MR. BOURKE,continuing, said, he thought it would be better to publish the Correspondence with respect to the Firmans at the same time; but this had involved him in a search through 30 or 40 volumes of Correspondence relating 1848 to Firmans since 1841, and the task had occupied him longer than he had anticipated. They were, however, now ready, and would, he hoped, be in the hands of hon. Members by Tuesday or Wednesday next, and the other Papers in the course of next week.
§ SIR JULIAN GOLDSMIDsaid, he wished to put two or three Questions to the right hon. Gentleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer with respect to Egyptian affairs. He had put several Questions upon the same subject on a former occasion, when the right hon. Gentleman said he was unable to answer them, because England was acting in concert with France in the matter. He now desired to ask, Whether the statement made by M. Waddington in the French Legislative Assembly was made after consultation with the English Government, seeing that the Chancellor of the Exchequer had declared some time ago that he was not in a position to make any statement himself until he had consulted with the French Government; and, whether the contradiction that was apparent between the statement of M. Waddington and what had been stated on the part of the British Government in the House of Commons could be explained? The statement of M. Waddington was that the French Government were obliged to insist on the abdication or deposition of the Khedive in the interests of the French creditors of the Khedive, whereas the statement on the part of the English Government was that action had not been taken in the interests of those creditors at all. Could he explain how those very different statements could be made to agree? He should also like to know, whether, considering the importance of the subject and the pledge of the Government with regard to it, the Chancellor of the Exchequer was not disposed to afford some other opportunity for the discussion of these matters than that which had been suggested by the Secretary to the Treasury—namely, on the stages of the Appropriation Bill; whether the right hon. Gentleman did not think it right that under the circumstances which had occurred, and after the very full explanation which had been offered in the French Legislative Assembly, a more favourable and earlier opportunity than that should be given before the House dispersed for the Recess?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERSir, I think it would be more convenient if Notice were given of Questions like that relating to the speech of M. Waddington. I have only seen a short account of it in the newspapers, and my experience is that these accounts are not always reliable. With regard to the opportunity the hon. Gentleman desires to have, I should be very glad indeed if opportunity could be given for discussion of this or any other subject; but we are asked for so many opportunities that really it is difficult to fix them at all. But as we are now, I hope, coming within sight of the Appropriation Bill, I think that the stages of that measure would furnish convenient opportunities enough for such discussion.
§ SIR JULIAN GOLDSMIDgave Notice that he would repeat his Question on Monday, with the addition of two or three others. As, from the remarks of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, there seemed to be a prospect of completing Supply in a few days, and as, therefore, the Appropriation Bill was not so far off as he had at first supposed, perhaps he had better bring forward the matter on that occasion; and, therefore, he would be glad to know when the Chancellor of the Exchequer expected to take the last Vote in Supply and to bring in the Appropriation Bill?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERsaid, that having been taunted on the point he had no desire to express too sanguine an opinion on the subject, and did not like to make rash speculations, but thought it was within the power of the House to close Supply next week. Whether the House would exercise that power or not he could not say.