§ SIR H. DRUMMOND WOLFFasked the Ender Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether Her Majesty's Government have or will come to a clear understanding with France as to the future position of British subjects in Tunis; whether their rights and privileges, as established under the Convention of 1875, are to be respected and maintained; and, whether France will assume the right and control the action of the Tunisian Government in respect of 1076 the renewal, revision, or denunciation of conventions now existing between Tunis and this Country, even if to the detriment of British subjects?
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKESir, Her Majesty's Government consider that the position of British subjects in Tunis is established by the Convention of 1875 between this country and the Regency, and the hon. Member will find in the Papers already distributed that Her Majesty's Government have explicitly stated to the French Government their views with regard to the rights of British subjects under existing Treaties. I may point out to the hon. Member that Article 40 of the above-mentioned Convention specially provides that, although at the expiration of seven years from its conclusion, either of the high contracting Powers shall have the right to call upon the other to enter upon a revision of the same, yet until such revision shall have been accomplished by common consent, and a new Convention concluded and put into operation, the present Convention is to remain in full force and effect. With regard to the hon. Member's second Question, I can add nothing to what is stated in Lord Granville's Note to M. Challemel Lacour of the 20th instant., which will be found in "Tunis," No. 3, page 10.