§ SIR H. DRUMMOND WOLFFasked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether 1421 it is intended to defer the Prorogation of Parliament until the termination of the sittings of the Conference; and, if so, what course will be adopted if those sittings are prolonged without the Conference arriving at any decision requiring action on the part of Parliament? The hon. Baronet explained that he had put down this Question before he made his remarks on Tuesday with reference to the Conference; and he asked it now in the hope that the Prime Minister might have something to add on the subject. He also desired to supplement his Question by asking whether any date had been fixed by the Plenipotentiaries for the resumption of the labours of the Conference; whether the Plenipotentiaries would then be enabled to give a decision on the objects of the Conference without referring to their respective Governments; and whether there was any reasonable prospect of Parliament being able to discuss the decision of the Conference before the approaching Prorogation.
MR. GLADSTONEI think I may answer the hon. Gentleman with perfect safety. Though we have no right to pronounce authoritatively as to what time the Conference will take in completing its labours, yet I have seen no occasion whatever, down to the present time, to consider the question in connection with the Prorogation. We do not expect any such question will arise. If it should arise, the House will have the very earliest intimation of it. The exact state of the case as to the progress made is this. The bulk of the labour of the Conference had to be performed by gentlemen to whom that task was delegated—gentlemen conversant and experienced in the matter of finance, and who would be able thoroughly to prepare the whole of that subject for discussion and decision in the Conference. That was done by a Body who have been called informally a Commission appointed by and under the Conference. That Body has completed its labours to-day; and that is, I think I may probably say, as far as we can judge, the bulk of the work that has to be done. The decisions that have to be come to are exclusively matter for the Conference. We have no reason to believe that they are likely to occupy a long time. It is not for Lord Granville to fix authoritatively any day for the meeting of the Conference; but 1422 he will give his attention to that subject immediately; and our expectation is that the Conference will meet upon a very early day indeed. With respect to the question of the Plenipotentiaries referring to their own Governments, that is a matter of which we cannot possibly have any official cognizance, inasmuch as it depends entirely on confidential communications between the Governments and the Ambassadors. But I take the possibility of such reference into view when I say we have no reason to anticipate a postponement or any indefinite prorogation of the labours of the Conference.
§ SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTEDo I understand the right hon. Gentleman aright—that the Commission has completed the preparatory work, so that it is now ready for the Conference to take it up? Is it not, therefore, necessary that the Conference should immediately re-assemble, and with whom does it lie to fix the meeting?
MR. GLADSTONEThese matters are always regulated when the Powers of Europe are assembled. I have no doubt that the initiative lies with Lord Granville, but it is not an authoritative initiative, and he will use it immediately and in general terms. I should say to the right hon. Gentleman that it is necessary that the Conference should re-assemble at once, and I believe they have every intention of doing so. I do not absolutely say to-morrow, as that would be driving the matter rather too hard, but at once when they are prepared to meet.
§ SIR H. DRUMMOND WOLFFasked the right hon. Gentleman whether there was any reasonable prospect of Parliament being able to consider the decision of the Conference before the approaching Prorogation?
MR. GLADSTONEI took that contingency into view when I said that we had seen no occasion to entertain the question of the exact time at which we shall be able to prorogue. I hope, with reference to what I have said on former occasions, that after the meeting of the Conference there will be an opportunity either for us to make a proposal to the House of Commons or an opportunity will be given for raising the question in the House itself.
§ SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTEI shall ask to-morrow whether a day has 1423 been fixed for the resumption of the Conference?
§ SIR H. DRUMMOND WOLFFasked whether, supposing the discussions of the Conference were prolonged, the Prorogation of Parliament would take place before any discussion in that House was held?
MR GLADSTONEWe are under a pledge to this House to give at least an opportunity for such a discussion. Everything I have said about the Conference must be understood without prejudice to that pledge.
MR. JOSEPH COWENinquired whether, in the event of the Conference not coming to a decision on the financial questions, it would be empowered to deal with the political questions generally relating to Egypt?
MR. GLADSTONEThe Conference has been called for financial purposes only, and not in regard to the general condition of Egypt.
§ LORD RANDOLPH CHURCHILLasked, with reference to the communications which had been made to the Powers in regard to the Anglo-French Agreement, whether the Powers had sent any reply?
MR. GLADSTONENo, Sir. Provisional replies alone have been given by, I think, most or the whole of the Powers to the effect that they found no occasion to take specific objection to the Agreement; but they appeared to contemplate matters on which they might fairly hold over their judgments till after the close of the Conference.
§ MR. BOURKEIn these circumstances, the Anglo-French Agreement will not come before the House for discussion?
MR. GLADSTONEI did not say that. I think our pledge is that the House shall have an opportunity, either by a proposition from us, or, at all events, an opportunity for a discussion which will involve the whole matter.
§ MR. BOURKEI understood the right hon. Gentleman to say that the Powers did not think that the Anglo-French Agreement would come under their notice in the Conference.