§ MR. LABOUCHEREasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether any steps are being taken by Her Majesty's Government, in view of the critical state of affairs in Egypt, to maintain our influence in that Country; and, whether, if no negotiations are now going on with Foreign Governments in regard to an eventual intervention, either collectively by the Great Powers, or by us in conjunction with France, or by us alone, he will lay upon the Table of the House all Papers connected with previous negotiations on the subject?
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKESir, Her Majesty's Government have been and are in communication with France and with other Governments on the subject of this Question; but it would not be advisable at present to state the nature of these communications, or to lay any further Papers on the Table. Any further remarks I reserve for the reply which I shall give on Monday to the Question of the right hon. Baronet opposite (Sir Stafford Northcote), if he will be good enough to postpone his Question till that day, when I shall be prepared to make as full a statement on the subject as the Government think can be made under the circumstances.
§ SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTEAs I understand from the answer of the hon. Gentleman that it would be inconvenient if I were to put my Question to-night, I will put it off till Monday.
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKEI would also ask the Member for Eye (Mr. Ashmead-Bartlett) whether, under these circumstances, he will not postpone the Motion on this subject of which he has given Notice on going into Committee of Supply?
§ MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTsaid, that, under the circumstances, he did not desire to proceed with his Motion to-night; but he must say that he hoped Her Majesty's Government would not 556 persist in their attacks upon the rights of Turkey, which would only produce war.
§ Subsequently,
§ MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTsaid, he wished to ask a Question of the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and he should like to say that he would be satisfied with a simple answer of "Yes" or "No." It was, Whether his attention had been called to the very serious speech delivered yesterday by the Prime Minister of France, in which he stated that the French Government had determined to maintain the particular and privileged position and preponderating influence which France enjoyed in Egypt?
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKEOf course, Sir, it would be most improper for me to make any statement in this House. As I have on many occasions said, in reply to similar Questions, I decline to make any remarks on speeches made by Ministers of foreign countries. But I may say that the words "preponderating influence" have been used in despatches laid before this House. It has always been admitted by all the European Powers that England and France together, or, as the phrase is, the Western Powers, have, or should have, preponderating influence in Egyptian affairs.
§ MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTIs the hon. Member aware that the quotation to which I referred speaks of the preponderating influence of France only?
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKEThe hon. Member must excuse me if I give him no further answer.