§ MR. W. CARTWRIGHTasked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, When the leave of absence given to Mr. Rivers Wilson on leaving this Country expires; whether any extension thereof has been asked for and whether Her Majesty's Government, as at present advised, see any reason for entertaining such request, if made or about to be made, with the view of enabling Mr. Rivers Wilson to continue his services to the Khedive; and, if he can now state when he expects to lay upon the Table of the House the promised additional Correspondence relating to Egypt?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERThe leave of absence given to Mr. Rivers Wilson was not limited to any particular date, but the time during which he was expected to be absent is now about expiring. A few days ago we received a telegraphic communication from Mr. Rivers Wilson to the effect that the Khedive had asked him whether he would accept an appointment in connection with the Egyptian financial administration, and Mr. Rivers Wilson intimated that he would not be unwilling to accept such an appointment for a period of, say, a year, if he could have an extension of leave for that purpose. To that a reply was given that Her Majesty's Government considered that it would be inconvenient that Mr. Wilson should take any service or should remain in Egypt unless he entirely disconnected himself from the Civil Service of this country. I therefore presume Mr. Rivers Wilson will not accept that appointment, although we have not received any positive communication from him since that intimation was given. I think we shall be able in a very few days to lay the Correspondence upon the Table.