HC Deb 14 February 1887 vol 310 cc1410-1
MR. S. WILLIAMSON (Kilmarnock, &c.)

asked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether Her Majesty's Government are considering the propriety of speedily putting an end to the burden on the taxpayers which Sir Henry Drummond Wolff's Mission imposes?

THE FIRST LORD (Mr. W. H. SMITH) (Strand, Westminster)

In answer to the hon. Gentleman, I have to say that Sir Henry Drummond Wolff is engaged in the conduct of delicate and difficult negotiations at Constantinople and at Cairo; and Her Majesty's Government, therefore, have no present intention of terminating his mission.

MR. S. WILLIAMSON

As arising out of the answer I have received to this Question from the First Lord of the Treasury, I wish to ask whether our accomplished Diplomatic Agents at Constantinople and at Cairo are in the enjoyment of good health, such as to enable them satisfactorily to discharge the duties of their position?

MR. W. H. SMITH

I can assure the hon. Gentleman that our Diplomatic Agents at Constantinople and at Cairo are in the enjoyment of good health, and they are also in the enjoyment of the most complete confidence of Her Majesty's Government. But Sir Henry Drummond Wolff is charged with a special mission and a special duty, which render it necessary that he should represent Her Majesty with respect to them both at Cairo and Constantinople.

MR. S. WILLIAMSON

As arising out of this particular answer, I beg to give Notice that the attention of the Government and the House will be directed to this matter either on the Estimates or on some other occasion.