HC Deb 26 June 1882 vol 271 cc397-9
BARON HENRY DE WORMS

asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether the statement made by M. de Freycinet in the French Chamber that— The Powers have signed a self-denying Protocol whereby each Power debars itself from seeking in Egypt any territorial or other advantage apart from the other Powers, is correct; if so, whether this self-denying Protocol was proposed to the other Powers by Her Majesty's Government, as was the case with the Protocole de Désintéressement signed in 1880; whether the Protocol referred to by M. de Freycinet would, if signed by England, preclude Her Majesty's Government from opposing a proposal for the neutralization of the Canal, it being a part of Egyptian territory; and, whether the Protocoles de Désintéressement of 1840 and 1880, which have been cited by Her Majesty's Government as precedents for the Protocol now proposed, referred to questions in which England was not specially concerned, as she is in the present case, owing to her predominant interest in the Suez Canal as her direct road to India?

SIR CHARLES W. DILKE

Sir, the Protocol was proposed jointly by England and France to the other Powers. There is nothing in the terms of it that would preclude Her Majesty's Government from opposing any such proposal as that suggested by the hon. Member if it were made. The hon. Member must form his own opinion as to the degree in which England was concerned in the questions referred to in the Protocols of 1840 and 1880.

MR. BOURKE

asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether the following information is correct:— Ragheb Pacha has addressed a letter to the Italian Consul General, who is the senior member or doyen of the Consular body, inviting him and his colleagues who may happen to be 'interested' in the massacre of the 11th instant, to appoint their delegates on the Commission of Inquiry. Ragheb demands that these delegates be furnished with full, and not, as previously, with limited powers, necessitating constant references to their respective Governments?

SIR CHARLES W. DILKE

Sir, we have not heard of this invitation being addressed by Ragheb Pasha to the Italian Consul General. The British Consular authorities in Egypt have been instructed, if such a Commission is constituted by Ragheb Pasha, to hold themselves aloof from it.

MR. O'DONNELL

asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, With reference to his statement that Her Majesty's Government have no control over the number or salaries of the Foreign officials employed in Egypt; and, whether Her Majesty's Government will raise any objection to a diminution of the number and reduction of the salaries of such Foreign officials by the Egyptian Government?

SIR CHARLES W. DILKE

I must decline to give any answer binding Her Majesty's Government on a supposed case which has not arisen.

MR. MAC IVER

asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether Her Majesty's Government would be bound by any decision of the Constantinople Conference which might be in conflict with the separate interest of Great Britain as distinguished from the interests of the other powers?

SIR CHARLES W. DILKE

Sir, I cannot make beforehand any declaration as to the course which Her Majesty's Government would pursue with regard to decisions which may or may not be arrived at by the Conference. The doctrine as to the majority of Powers binding the minority will be found in any ordinary text-book on International Law.

MR. MAC IVER

would, with the permission of the hon. Baronet, put the same Question in a different form—namely, Whether it was the intention of the Government to treat the interests of Great Britain as identical with those of France?

SIR CHARLES W. DILKE

lean not answer that Question without Notice, but even if Notice were given, I do not think it would be desirable to answer it.

MR. PULESTON

asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether the expenses and outlays of the British Government incident to the present condition of Egypt would be chargeable to the Egyptian Treasury?

SIR CHARLES W. DILKE

I am not at present prepared to define the claims which Her Majesty's Government will have to make upon the Egyptian Government.

MR. O'DONNELL

asked whether the expenses and outlay of the Egyptian Government consequent upon the present policy of Her Majesty's Government would be borne by the British Treasury?

[No reply was given.]