§ SIR H. DRUMMOND WOLFFasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether his attention has been called to a paragraph in the French newspaper "Telegraphe," copied into the "Standard" of the 17th instant, under the head "The Tunisian Question," stating that M. Jules Ferry, in replying to M. Rouvier, Deputy for the Benches du Rhone, on the subject of the Enfida Estate, had declared that the French Cabinet had rejected the idea of submitting the difference to a local tribunal; whether such statement is correct; and, whether, as far as the interests of a British public are concerned, Her Majesty's Government can, consistently with Treaties and International Law, consent to ignore the jurisdiction of Tunisian tribunals in a question affecting real property situated in the Regency of Tunis?
§ MR. MONTAGUE GUESTasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether his attention has been called to the statements made in several French newspapers, that the English Government has definitely consented to refer the Enfida case at Tunis to arbitration, notwithstanding the understanding stated to have been arrived at between the two Governments that the matter should be determined in due course by the local tribunals according to local law?
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKEI have seen several statements in the French and the English newspapers respecting the communications which have passed on this subject between Her Majesty's Government and that of the French Republic, None of them appear to be quite accurate. In any case, it would be contrary to the usual practice to express any opinion with regard to statements made by members of foreign Governments. As regards the settlement of the Enfida dispute, a proposal has been brought forward by the French Government, which Her Majesty's Government have referred for the consideration of the Law Officers of the Crown. I cannot enter into more details.