§ MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTasked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether it is true that Her Majesty's Government have agreed to place the finances of Egypt under International Control, and to specifically limit the term of the British occupation of Egypt; and, whether the Conference is to meet upon this basis?
MR. GLADSTONEI am not able to enter into any particulars which are embraced, or might be embraced, in the negotiations relating to Egypt. I promised the House, when we were in. a position to do so, to make a full statement; and I cannot enter into any part of the subject separately.
§ MR. BOURKEPerhaps the right hon. Gentleman will answer my Question—that is, when will he make his promised statement with respect to Egyptian affairs?
MR. GLADSTONEThe Question of the right hon. Gentleman is a sequel to what was said in the House last Monday. I stated then that great progress had been made in the communications with France, and that I hope to be able to make a statement in the course of the present week. I am now able to say that the communications with France have reached a point at which we can proceed to consult the other Powers, and can undertake to fix a time for making the statement. The day that we can fix will not be this week; it will, however, be Monday next.
§ After an interval,
§ MR. BOURKEsaid: Referring to the answer given just now by the right hon. Gentleman respecting the Anglo-French Agreement, I wish to make a suggestion to Her Majesty's Government, and, to put myself in Order, I shall state the point in the form of a Question. I shall 424 ask the Question of the right hon. Gentleman now, or postpone it until Thursday. The Question is this—As the Anglo-French Agreement is not to have any validity until it is approved by this House, will the right hon. Gentleman submit it to this House before he endeavours to obtain for it the sanction of the other Powers of Europe? I wish to put that statement on record, in order to guard myself in view of the debate which is to take place next week.
MR. GLADSTONEI thank the right hon. Gentleman for his offer to give Notice of the Question; but I do not think I need avail myself of it. I am not in a position at the present moment to explain fully the relations of Her Majesty's Government to this Agreement. But our declaration, will be strictly fulfilled that the whole proceedings will fall to the ground without the consent of this House. I cannot consent to lay the negotiations with the French Government before the House before they have been submitted to the Powers.