§ SIR H. DRUMMOND WOLFFasked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether the negotiations between Colonel Stokes and M. de Lesseps relative to the future management of the Suez Canal have arrived at the stage at which they can be communicated to Parliament; and, whether, before any arrangement is finally concluded on the subject, Parliament will have an opportunity of expressing an opinion thereon; and whether such opportunity will be given to the House before the proposals are laid before the general meeting of the shareholders of the Canal?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER, in reply, said, the Question was not, on the face of it, perfectly clear as to what negotiations the hon. Member referred to; but he concluded that he referred to the arrangements for the representation of British interests upon the Canal Company. He did not think it was advantageous that the details of such negotiations and arrangements should be made the subject of discussion in Parliament before they were laid before the shareholders.