§ MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether Her Majesty's Government abide by their Despatch of January 16th of this year, in which Lord Lyons is instructed
To state to M. Gambetta that Her Majesty's Government concur with him that the proposal of the Chamber of Notables in regard to voting that portion of the Budget which deals with unassigned resources and the expenses of administration" (i.e. the portion which does not affect the service of the debt) "cannot be agreed to;whether the Conference at Constantinople, representing the "Concert of Europe," still continues its meetings; and, whether he can state what measures Her Majesty's Government are taking to secure tranquillity in Egypt, and to maintain the predominance of British influence in that Country and over the Suez Canal?
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKESir, in answer to the first and third paragraphs of the Question of the hon. Member, I can only refer to the statement made by the Prime Minister on Tuesday, in reply to the inquiry of the right hon. Member for North Devon, respecting the policy of Her Majesty's Government in Egypt. As regards the second paragraph, I have to state that the meetings of the Conference at Constantinople have been discontinued.
§ MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTinquired whether it was meant that the Conference had actually been broken up?
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKEI can use no other word with regard to the sittings of the Conference than that they are discontinued.