HC Deb 30 May 1881 vol 261 cc1652-3
MR, MURRAY

asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether Her Majesty's, Government has any reason to suppose that the French Government has now retreated from its position in regard to the Enfida affair, viz.:— That it was impossible under the circumstances that the French Government could consent to leave the Enfida affair to the decision of the Tunisian local tribunals" [Tunis, No. 4, 1881, No. 40]; and, if not, whether Her Majesty's Government consider that they are fulfilling their duty to Mr. Levy in declining To interfere in the difference which has arisen between the contending purchasers of the Enfida estate; and, also how circumstances have thus altered to Mr. Levy's detriment since last February, when Her Majesty's Government checked the special action of the French Government in the Enfida affair by the movement of H.M.S. "Thunderer," which were admittedly made to depend upon those of a French ironclad sent to "weigh in favour of the French Company?"

SIR CHARLES W. DILKE

As regards the first part of the Question, Her Majesty's Government are unable to say whether the French Government have retreated from the position referred to, since no reply has been returned to the communication addressed to them by Lord Lyons on the 4th instant, under instructions from the Foreign Office. As regards the second part of the Question, the Papers before the House show that while the Enfida Question was under discussion the French iron-clad Friedland was sent to Tunis, as Her Majesty's Government had reason to believe, in connection with this affair; whereupon they thought it desirable to despatch the Thunderer to the coast of Tunis. In the course of subsequent explanations between the two Governments, it was stated that the mission of the Friedland had no connection with the Enfida Question, and both vessels were withdrawn.