§ MR. W. E. FORSTERasked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether Her Majesty's Representatives in Egypt have been or will be instructed to press upon the Khedive of Egypt the fulfilment of the Convention of 1877 between the British and Egyptian Governments for the suppression of the Slave Trade, and to endeavour to obtain the abolition of slavery in Egypt; and, whether he will lay upon the Table of the House the Correspondence which resulted in the abolition of slavery in Tunis, at the recommendation of Her Majesty's Government, and a Copy of the Convention to that effect between the Governments of Great Britain and Tunis?
MR. GLADSTONEAs to this Question generally, I have to assure my right hon. Friend that with its purport Her Majesty's Government entirely sympathize; and I would refer him to the State Papers that were laid on the Table, volume 35, pages 639 and 643. I have also to say that, with regard to Tunis, by the declaration of 1846, the Government of Tunis undertook to abolish slavery; but no Convention with Great Britain was entered into on the subject until 1875, when, under a Convention, His Highness the Bey engaged to cause the declaration to be obeyed. That Convention was laid before Parliament in 1876. I do not know that I have anything more to add. I have stated briefly our sympathy with my right hon. Friend, and I believe we shall be found working in his direction.
§ MR. W. E. FORSTERreminded the Prime Minister that he had not answered the first part of his Question—namely, whether Her Majesty's Representatives in Egypt had been instructed to press upon the Khedive the abolition of slavery in Egypt?
MR. GLADSTONEThat is a matter as to which the reply will be found in the State Papers to which I have referred my right hon. Friend. If he finds that reply to be insufficient, perhaps he will repeat his Question on Monday.
§ MR. W. E. FORSTERThe quotation from the State Papers is not with regard to Tunis, but with regard to Egypt. Perhaps I may repeat the Question on Monday.