HC Deb 25 February 1879 vol 243 c1752
MR. ELLIOT

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, If the statement in "The Times" of yesterday is correct that France has ordered the despatch boat "Renard" to Egypt, and an English ship is going in the same direction; and, if so, whether these vessels have any special or joint mission?

MR. W. H. SMITH

Sir, it is true that an English and French ship have been ordered to Alexandria. The Governments of England and France deem it desirable, in present circumstances, that there should be a ship of each nation in Egyptian waters. No special mission has been given to the commanders of those ships.