§ MR. BOURKEI bog to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether Papers down to a recent date upon Egyptian Affairs will soon be presented to Parliament? At the same time I should like to ask the hon. Baronet a Question of which I have given him private Notice with respect to a document—called in the House an Ultimatum—which was presented on May 25, by the Diplomatic Agents of England and France at Cairo, to the Turkish Council of Ministers, and in which three propositions were made. The first was for the temporary removal from Egypt of Arabi Pasha, allowing him to retain his rank and pay; the 68 second, the sending of Ali Fehmy and Abdulla Pashas into the interior of Egypt, equally with the retention of their rank and pay; and the third, the resignation of the present Ministry. Authorized by their respective Governments, the Consular Agents recommended these propositions to the serious consideration of the Council of Ministers and their Colleagues, and intimated that, in certain eventualities, they were authorized to exact the fulfilment of these conditions. I wish to ask whether these conditions have been fulfilled; and, if not, whether their fulfilment will be exacted? At the same time, it may be convenient that I should ask whether the Sultan has rejected the idea of a Conference; whether, if the Sultan has rejected the idea of a Conference, the Note is abandoned; whether the Conference can take place at Constantinople without his invitation; whether it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government to support the present Khedive; whether the Sultan has ordered the preparation of the earthworks at Alexandria to be stopped; whether, in the event of Arabi Pasha refusing to stop the preparation of the earthworks, the Sultan has asked the English Government to stop their preparation by force; and, if so, what answer has been returned; whether the British residents at Alexandria have applied to the British Consulate for protection, and what answer has been given; and, whether any number of British residents have left Alexandria for their safety? If the hon. Baronet is not prepared to answer these Questions to-day, I will repeat them tomorrow.
SIR CHARLES W. DLLKEIn answer to the Question on the Paper, I have to state that Her Majesty's Government have been in communication with the French Government as to the publication of the further Papers which we desire to lay on the Table with as little delay as possible, and have received from the French Government an answer which is favourable, but not final. Generally speaking, they express no objection to the publication of the Papers; but they make certain reservations, and we shall have to discuss with them those reservations which they make.
§ MR. BOURKEWhen can that be done?
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKEIt will take some days before we are quite certain. Upon that subject, I say, the answer is favourable; because I think it will be possible to come to an agreement.
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKEUp to the present time. If they are laid at all upon the Table, it will be up to the present time. With regard to the other Questions, the right hon. Gentleman draws a distinction between the earlier and the later Questions. He says he gave me Notice of the earlier Questions; but it was Notice of a kind hardly entitled to be called Notice at all. He did tell me that he would ask me a Question as to the Ultimatum; but he did not say what it was. He knows that when he held the Office I now have the honour to occupy, I asked him a good many Questions, and always when it was possible I gave him a week's Notice. It is exceedingly inconvenient, as he knows, to be called on to answer Questions without Notice, and that it is especially difficult when these Questions relate to a subject regarding which we have to weigh every word we say, and the different points of which ought to be the subject beforehand of communication with Foreign Powers. With regard to this Ultimatum, the right hon. Gentleman could have given me Notice beforehand; because there is nothing in the Question which has come to his knowledge recently. The facts were in his possession 10 days ago. He said the word "Ultimatum" was used in this House. It was not used by me, and I protested against its use on behalf of the Government. Without going into further reasons, I may say that if the question were debated, I should describe an Ultimatum as proceeding from one Sovereign to another Sovereign, which was clearly not the case in this instance. With regard to that document, I have said, in general terms, that Her Majesty's Government, as on former occasions, do not intend to go back from the statement they have made respecting their Egyptian policy. The right hon. Gentleman asks whether the Turkish Government has rejected the idea of a Conference? No, Sir; they have not done so: they have not answered us up to the present time. He then asks, if the Conference at Constan- 70 tinople is refused by Turkey, would it be held elsewhere?
§ MR. BOURKENo; that is not my Question. I asked, could it be held at Constantinople without the Sultan's invitation?
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKEThat would be a question to be considered. Certainly it could be held elsewhere. He then asks me whether the Sultan has asked the British Government certain Questions as to what would happen if these fortifications at Alexandria were not discontinued? No; the Sultan has not done so. Her Majesty's Government have been in communication with Sir Edward Malet and Admiral Sir Beau champ Seymour upon the subject of the earthworks at Alexandria, and Her Majesty's Government are quite agreed with them as to the steps to be taken, and they have complete confidence in the power of the Admiral to maintain the safety of the ships under his command. It would be, however, undesirable to make any statement as to the steps to be resolved upon. We have heard to-day that very strong orders have been given by the Sultan immediately to discontinue the building of these forts. Arabi Pasha, it is announced, has been ordered by the Khedive to discontinue arming them, and the Khedive has also ordered all warlike preparations at Alexandria to be discontinued. With regard to the last Question, as to the European residents leaving Alexandria, we have received representations from them. It was in consequence of representations made by them, and made through Sir Beauchamp Seymour and the Consul at Alexandria, some days ago, that the Squadron at Alexandria was considerably strengthened. With regard to their leaving Alexandria, we have heard nothing officially; but privately we have heard that a good many have left.
§ MR. BOURKEWhere for?
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKEWe have not heard, except that they were leaving by the various mail steamers.
§ SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTEAre we to understand from the answer that has just been given that the proposal for the Conference is still before the Porte, and that no answer has been received to the invitation?
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKEYes, Sir. The official answers from the Great 71 Powers have only just begun to come in. We have received informal answers from the Great Powers, and some indirect communication from Lord Dufferin on the subject; but nothing direct from the Porte.