§ MR. OTWAYI wish to ask the hon. Gentleman the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs a Question of which I have given him private Notice, Whether any communication has been received by Her Majesty's Government relating to the tone of an influential portion of the French Press, and especially of the newspapers intimately connected with the present Administration in France, towards Her Majesty's Government on account of their policy and proceedings in Egypt; and, whether there is anything in the present relations of the two Governments which justifies the hostile tone of those French journals, which are usually most friendly towards this country?
§ MR. BOURKEI am sure my hon. Friend and the House will be glad to hear that there is nothing in the communications which have passed between the Government of France and the Government of England that can give grounds for the allegation that there is any difference whatever in the policy of the two Governments with respect to Egypt. We really know nothing of any of the alleged disagreements which have taken place.
§ MR. OTWAYThe hon. Gentleman has only answered a portion of my Question. He has left unanswered that part which asks whether any communications have been received by Her Majesty's Government relating to this matter?
§ MR. BOURKEThe hon. Gentleman is usually so fair in the Questions which he puts in regard to foreign affairs, that I should be very willing to give him all 1362 the information in my power. If, however, he alludes to communications which have been passing between Her Majesty's Government and our Ambassador at Paris, I am sure he will see that it would be impossible for me to give even the faintest idea of what those communications are about, as they are, of course, confidential. Therefore, in the present state of affairs, I do not think I can give him any more information than I have already given—namely, that there is no ground for the allegation that there is any substantial difference in the policy of the two Governments.