§ EARL DE LA WARRI beg to ask the noble Earl the Secretary of State for 76 Foreign Affairs a Question of which I have given him private Notice—namely, Whether now, or on an early day, the House can be informed of the nature of the powers which it is proposed to confer upon Lord Northbrook in Egypt; whether those powers will be of a political as well as of a financial character; and also when the precise terms of the commission of Lord Northbrook can be laid before Parliament; also whether the noble Earl can state whether the Government of the Sultan has been consulted on the subject?
§ EARL GRANVILLEIn answer to my noble Friend, I have nothing to add to what I stated on the last occasion—namely, that the Earl of Northbrook has accepted the commission to go to Egypt in order to advise Her Majesty as to the counsel which should be given to the Khedive in the present state of affairs, and with regard to any business in connection therewith. With regard to the powers which he is to have, the Papers are being drafted at this moment, and as soon as they have been submitted to the Queen and have received the Sign Manual they will be presented to Parliament—before the Prorogation, but I cannot state the precise day. With regard to the last Question, I may state that Her Majesty's Government have already communicated with the Sultan on the subject.