§ MR. PULESTONasked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether there is any foundation in fact for the statements repeatedly made in public prints
That Mr. H. C. Vivian, the English Consul General in Egypt, has been working against Mr. Rivers Wilson in the plans the latter has formed for the revival of Egypt," "that Mr. Vivian has repeatedly and openly expressed, not merely officially but also unofficially to unofficial persons, his conviction that neither Mr. Rivers Wilson or any other could put the finances of Egypt on a satisfactory footing, and that the only thing to be done was to proclaim immediate bankruptcy?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERSir, Egypt seems to me to be land of gossip, for I frequently see numerous statements repeatedly made in the public Press for which, as far as I can see, there is no foundation at all. Certainly, the policy of Her Majesty's Government, which is that which Mr. Vivian, our Consul General, would be bound to pursue, has been to support, in every way that is proper for them, the proceedings of the Egyptian Government in its plans for the reconstruction of the finances of the country. I can only say, with regard to this Question, that Mr. Vivian has never communicated to us any sentiments of the sort therein attributed to him. Mr. Vivian is the person from whom we receive official intelligence, and he has never officially informed us of anything of the kind.