HC Deb 12 March 1885 vol 295 cc891-2
MR. BOURKE

said, some of the Supplementary Votes that were down for consideration that evening arose out of Egyptian finance; and he wished to know whether Her Majesty's Government could postpone those Votes until the Papers relating to Egyptian finance had been presented to Parliament?

MR. GLADSTONE

I should not like to make any further demands on the patience of the House; but, as the right hon. Gentleman knows, we must have our Supplementary Estimates completed before the 31st of March, and there is a chance that the Financial Agreement may not be signed by that date. At the earliest moment we can find after the conclusion of the Agreement it will be presented to Parliament. It would be impossible for us to discuss Egyptian finance without having the Agreement before us. We will not lose a moment in submitting the Agreement to Parliament.

MR. CHAPLIN

said, that as they had been told very often by the Prime Minister that the Agreement would be signed in a short time, and as some weeks had passed since that announcement was first made, he wished to know what the right hon. Gentleman meant by a short time? Was it a few days, a week, a month, or two months? The House was very anxious to have that information.

MR. GLADSTONE

said, they had been so often disappointed as to time in that matter—a burnt child dreaded the fire—that he did not like to speak too positively; but what appeared to be the reasonable expectation on the part of the Government was that the matter would be decided in the course of two or three days. It was only on account of some verbal questions that some delay had taken place at one or two Foreign Courts.

SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTE

Could the right hon. Gentleman conveniently tell us in what form the question will be submitted to the House?

MR. GLADSTONE

I think that the form of the presentation of the question to Parliament will be one that will completely establish the jurisdiction of the House of Commons. It will be in the form of a preliminary Resolution on which to found a Bill for a guarantee.