§ SIR H. DRUMMOND WOLFFasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether, at the present moment, Her Majesty's Consular Agent at Tunis has access to the Bey on matters affecting British interests; and, if not, whether there is any instance on record where the Foreign Diplomatic or Consular Representatives at the capital of a recognized Government have been requested by one of their body to communicate through him to the authorities of the country?
§ LORD BANDOLPH CHURCHILLasked, also, Whether, at the present time, the British Consul at Tunis has free access to the Bey of Tunis on public matters; and, whether, as far as the British Consul is concerned, M. Roustan's Circular is invalid and ineffectual?
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKESir, I am not aware of any recent change in the practice of the Bey as to the reception of the Representative of Her Majesty. I am not aware of any instance on record where the Foreign Diplomatic or Consular Representatives at the capital of a recognized Government 762 have been requested by one of their body to communicate through him with the authorities of the country. In the present case, the Bey of Tunis has himself appointed M. Roustan as his intermediary. This appointment is, as I have twice stated, the subject of diplomatic correspondence which is now proceeding.
§ Subsequently,
§ MR. OTWAY (for Mr. MONTAGUE GUEST)asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether the appointment of M. Roustan as sole intermediary between the Bey of Tunis and the Foreign Representatives there is in contradiction with M. St. Hilaire's assurances that the treaty rights of England should be "scrupulously respected;" whether, as a matter of fact, this arrangement does not in a great measure abrogate all our conventions with Tunis; and, whether Her Majesty's Government is prepared to lay upon the Table the instructions they have given to the Political Agent and Consul General of Great Britain at Tunis with respect to M. Roustan's Circular? The hon. Member added, that he understood that the French Minister Resident at Tunis had issued a notification, directing the Representative of the English Government to apply to him, in effect, on every occasion upon which he desired to obtain access on public matters to the Bey of Tunis. In those circumstances, as it was impossible that the English Resident should not have asked for instructions from his Government as to what he should do, he wished to put the following Question to the hon. Baronet, having given him private Notice of it—namely, Whether our Representative at Tunis has been instructed to comply with the demand or notification of the French Minister? [Cries of "Order !"] He was perfectly in Order. He wished to know, Whether the British Representative at Tunis has been instructed to comply with this unheard-of notification, or to disregard it, and maintain the rights which the Representative of Her Majesty's Government has of free access to the Bey and Government of Tunis?
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKESir, Her Majesty's Government have been advised that the appointment by the Bey of M. Roustan as intermediary for Foreign Affairs does not affect our Treaty 763 rights. The Instructions to Her Majesty's Agent -will be laid on the Table of the House. As I have already stated, there is no right of access by our Representative to the Bey by Treaty, nor is he assumed to possess such a right. He has been instructed to transact business in the manner in which he has been accustomed to transact it with the Government of Tunis, although there has been a change of persons; and when referred by that Government to M. Roustan, to communicate with M. Roustan accordingly. Communications are passing as to the effect of this action on our part; but I am unable at the present time to state the nature of those communications to the House.
§ MR. BOURKEWill the instructions which have been sent to Her Majesty's Representative at Tunis be laid upon the Table?
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKECertainly, with the other Papers.
§ MR. OTWAYsaid, that Her Majesty's Representative at Tunis, if he had no right of access to the Bey by Treaty, enjoyed the privileges which were accorded to the Representatives of all countries by the comity of nations. He wished to know, whether, in the case of Her Majesty's Representative at Tunis, those privileges have been withdrawn?
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKESir, I have already stated that we are not aware of any right of access to the Bey by Treaty. Access is a matter of courtesy now as before.
MR. LABOUOHEREWill my hon. Friend allow me to ask, with whom do foreign Consuls communicate as the Representative of the Government in that part of the Turkish Dominions called Cyprus?
§ MR. MACFARLANEalso asked, whether the present state of affairs in Tunis is not due to the carte blanche which has been given to M. Waddington in the matter by Lord Salisbury?
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKE, in reply, said, that the communications of foreign Governments with regard to Cyprus took place, as a matter of fact, with the British Government. With regard to the further Question put by his hon. Friend behind him, he might state that the instructions given to Mr. Reade had reference to the transaction of current business with the Government of Tunis. Communications were passing, in which 764 the views of Her Majesty's Government were set forth; but until those communications were complete, of course they could not be laid before the House.
§ SIR H.DRUMMOND WOLFFasked, whether the communications were with the French Government?
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKEreplied, that there were communications with the French Government.