§ LORD LAMINGTONasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether the Egyptian Loan Bill will not entirely supersede the Control of the Egyptian Government, hitherto exercised by Her Majesty's Government, as stated in the noble Earl's Instructions to Sir Evelyn Baring in his despatch of January 4, 1884; and, whether the control of the Six Guaranteeing Powers 939 will be substituted for that Control until the "pacification of Egypt" is effected?
§ EARL GRANVILLEI think the noble Lord's Question must have been put under some misunderstanding. With regard to what is called by him "the British Control" in Egypt at the present moment, my view is this—that we are in military occupation of Egypt, and, no doubt, a great responsibility rests upon us; and, being in that position, without attempting to administer the Government of Egypt from this country, it is quite clear, as we think, that we have a right, on all important questions, to give our advice to the Egyptian Government, and to expect that that advice should be followed. I am not aware that the Egyptian Loan Bill in the slightest degree affects that question, and I do not know that the Bill gives to Foreign Powers any right which they do not possess at this moment. They claim, and we admit that the Powers of Europe have an interest in Egypt; but the Bill neither confirms nor increases it in any way.