HC Deb 14 August 1882 vol 273 cc1688-90
MR. O'DONNELL

asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether the attention of the Government has been called to the statement of Sir Stephen Cave (Bluebook 1425, of 1876, page 6), with regard to the two loans of 1862 and 1864 amounting to a nominal total of some £9,000,000, that, in spite of inquiry on the spot, he could get "no particulars of the amount really received by Egypt on the first of these loans;" whether he has reason to believe that there is a large difference between the nominal amount and the amount received in the case of other Egyptian Loans; and, whether he can state the total nominal amount and the total amount received in the case of all the Egyptian Loans, and, also the total amount paid by Egypt in interest on loans?

SIR CHARLES W. DILKE

Sir, I do not think it advisable that Her Majesty's Government should make any statements in regard to financial matters respecting which they have no information which is not in the possession of this House and the public.

MR. O'DONNELL

said, he wished to ask the hon. Baronet whether the two loans referred to were contracted for by the firm of Frühling and Goschen; whether Her Majesty's Government had afterwards appointed a member of that firm Her Majesty's Ambassador Extraordinary at Constantinople; and, whether they were aware at the time that the right hon. Gentleman was a partner in the firm which contracted for the loans of 1862 and 1864?

SIR CHARLES W. DILKE

Sir, I believe this Question has been three times asked and answered in this House during the present Session. It was answered in the course of a recent debate on Egypt in this House, and also in "another place." That being so, I think it would be, perhaps, better, if the hon. Gentleman wishes to repeat it, to place it on the Paper, so that the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Ripon (Mr. Goschen) might see it, and have a fair opportunity of answering the part that relates to himself.

MR. O'DONNELL

Then I give Notice of the Question.

MR. GOSCHEN

If the hon. Member wishes to ask me the Question, I should prefer he would do so at once.

MR. O'DONNELL

Then, Sir, I ask, whether the loans of 1862 and 1864, referred to by Sir Stephen Cave in the first paragraph of my Question, were negotiated or contracted with the Khedive by the house of Frühling, Goschen, and Co.; and whether a member of that firm was afterwards appointed by Her Majesty's Government Ambassador Extraordinary at Constantinople; and, whether the Government were aware of the connection of that gentleman with the said firm?

MR. GOSCHEN

Sir, I do not propose to answer the last two paragraphs of the Question, which the hon. Member simply put in invidiam, because they are matters of public knowledge. With regard to the first, it is not true, as has been alleged, that the firm of Frühling and Goschen were the contractors. They were the London agents for these two loans, which were contracted for by others, and nothing more.

MR. O'DONNELL

said, he would ask other Questions on the subject tomorrow.