§ MR. MAGNIACasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether the Government, has made any communication to the Council of the Suez Canal Company with reference to the Convention with the Shipowners' Association; and, if so, whether the Correspondence on that and any other matter connected with the Canal since that last published will immediately be presented to the House; and, whether any survey has lately been made of the present dimensions of the Canal; and, if not, whether the Government will cause one to be made, so that the country may be able to judge whether the terms of the concession in that respect have been fulfilled? He also asked whether the long letter from M. De Lesseps immediately preceding the letter of the Government, which 296 had already been published in the newspapers, would be included in the Papers presented to the House?
§ LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICEYes, Sir; the Correspondence, which will include the communication referred to by my hon. Friend, is about to be laid on the Table. It is not the intention of Her Majesty's Government to cause any survey of the Canal to be made with the object named by my hon. Friend. With regard to the further Question of my hon. Friend, I think I must ask him to give Notice of that.
§ MR. MAGNIACIn consequence of the answer of the noble Lord, I shall, on the earliest day in my power, move that a survey be made.