§ MR. BOORDasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, If he will state the conditions on which the Egyptian Government are prepared to sanction the removal of the obelisk known as "Cleopatra's Needle" to this Country; and, whether they are such as Her Majesty's Government can agree to?
§ MR. BOURKESir, the Foreign Office has, strictly speaking, no precise information as to the conditions referred to in the Question of my hon. Friend; but it has been informed by persons interested in the matter that the Khedive is willing to consent to the removal to this country of Cleopatra's Needle provided Her Majesty's Government will accept the custody of the obelisk when erected. The question of accepting the custody of the obelisk, supposing it to be brought over, is under the consideration of the Treasury.