§ SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTEasked, When the House might expect to be made acquainted with the financial arrangements for Egypt?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. CHILDERS), in reply, said, he did not think that it would be safe to name a day on which they could be submitted to Parliament. He could say, however, that he had heard upon good authority—that of one of the Ambassadors—that, practically, the arrangements were now complete.
§ SIR H. DRUMMOND WOLFFasked, whether the results of the negotiations 1780 with regard to the financial arrangements of Egypt would be contained in the same document which would contain the political arrangement? His reasons for asking the Question were that he saw that instructions had been sent to Blum Pasha to sign the financial arrangements; but he supposed he would not be able to sign a political Treaty.
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. CHILDERS), in reply, said, that he know nothing of the instructions to Blum Pasha beyond what he had just stated. The arrangements would be laid before Parliament together. He could not state the exact form which they would ultimately take.
§ SIR H. DRUMMOND WOLFFasked, whether these formed part of the same arrangement—whether they were to discuss them en bloc?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. CHILDERS)I am afraid I cannot answer that Question beyond this—that the whole arrangements will be laid before Parliament at the same time, but the exact form they will ultimately take in separation I am not in a position to state.
§ SIR H. DRUMMOND WOLFFI suppose this Convention being signed before the Papers are laid before Parliament, we shall not be able to separate one discussion from the other?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. CHILDERS), in reply, said, he thought the hon. Member's best course would be to abstain from criticism until the documents should have been actually signed, and laid upon the Table.
MR. GORSTsaid, he wished to know whether the Papers would at last contain Lord Northbrook's Financial Report?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. CHILDERS), in reply, said, that he could not answer that Question without Notice, and it had better be addressed to the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
§ MR. M'COANasked, whether the House was clearly to understand that the International Convention on the Finances of Egypt would not be ratified by the Government till the assent of Parliament was obtained?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. CHILDERS)Certainly. The Agreement for the Loan, on which all 1781 turns, is made subject to that condition.