§ SIR GEORGE CAMPBELL (for Sir JULIAN GOLDSMID)asked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether the statement is correct which appeared in the "Observer" of Sunday last, to the effect that a joint note was on the 8th instant addressed by telegram to the Khedivo by the English and French Governments, with reference to the recent Ministerial crisis at Cairo; and, if so, whether its pur- 1703 port was accurately given; and, whether he will lay a Copy of it upon the Table of the House? He also asked, Whether the English and French Governments have required the Khedive of Egypt to abstain from sitting in his own Council, and to give the Foreign Ministers a veto on the proceedings of that Council, and have at the same time held him personally responsible for any failures in the measures of the present administration; if he can explain how it happened that during the past year the Egyptian bondholders were paid, while the English Government, the assignee of part of the tribute due to Turkey, was not paid; and, if he can now say whether the English Finance Minister of Egypt came under any obligation or made any promises to great financial houses not to reduce the interest on the Egyptian debt for a certain period?
§ THE CHANCELLOE OF THE EXCHEQUERSir, I am obliged to say, with regard to the first Question, that as communications are still going on, and as the French Government is a party to them as well as ourselves, it is impossible to give any minute answer as to the nature of the current negotiations. I am, therefore, hardly able to give an answer, which might not be either misleading or imperfect, to the first Question. But there can be no doubt that there is perfect accord between the English and French Governments in the matter. The Papers which are passing through the Press will bring the accounts down to a recent date, though not including the current negotiations. In the second Question, the hon. Gentleman asked how it happened that the Egyptian bondholders were paid while the English Government—the assignee of part of the tribute due to Turkey— was not paid? With regard to the proceedings which terminated in the payment of the Egyptian bondholders—the May coupon, I suppose—which have been made more than once the subject of discussion in this House—[Sir GEORGE CAMPBELL: The November coupon also.] The November coupon was paid very much under similar circumstances, though not under any pressure of the Government. With regard to the last payment of the English Government, we were not, of course, in direct communication with the Egyptian Government on the subject. Our claim was 1704 against Turkey, and we have pressed it from time to time. Turkey ordered the Khedive to make payment; but, somehow or other, circumstances have occurred to prevent payment being made. There is no reason to doubt that the Porte gave the order, and that the Porte was justified in giving it. We have not put any exceptional pressure on Egypt in the matter; but in no way have we been an assenting party; on the contrary, we have steadily remonstrated against the delay that has taken place. With regard to the last part of the Question, I am wholly ignorant of any promise made by the English Finance Minister of Egypt. It is not my business to have anything to say to Questions of that sort.