§ SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTEasked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether he can state what progress has been made towards the settlement of the questions of the Taxation of fereigners in Egypt and of the administration of justice in cases in which foreigners are concerned; and, whether any Papers can be presented on these subjects?
MR. GLADSTONESir, With regard to the taxation of foreigners, I have substantially nothing to add to what I stated the other day; but I may refer to one or two matters of fact with regard to Papers which are not before the House for the purposes of giving greater completeness to what I have said. The House is aware that the Egyptian Government was invited by the British Government to submit a plan to the Powers. They have produced that plan, and have submitted it to the Powers; but it has not yet been adequately considered so far as we know—certainly, it has not yet been conclusively considered by ourselves. We do not think there would be any advantage in producing the plan, until we know more of the manner in which it has been received now that it has come out in a definite shape; but the Papers which are already before the House show that both the Italian and French Governments, the only Governments of whose opinions we are aware, are, in principle, 2107 favourable to the taxation of foreigners in Egypt. With regard to the second part of the Question, in respect to the administration of justice in cases in which foreigners are concerned, the right hon. Gentleman, and probably the House, are well aware that that is a complicated and difficult subject which has been under consideration, and still continues so, quite apart from any matter immediately connected with the controversies of government, or with the military operations of last year. The great subject of the extension of international jurisdiction in criminal cases yet remains to be determined. Upon that, all I have to say is, that in principle we are favourable to it, but no plan has yet been prepared on the subject. As to the question of administration of justice, it is likely Papers will shortly be in a condition to be presented, as soon as any results sufficiently substantial have boon attained. With regard to the other subject, the taxation of foreigners, there are no Papers at present which can be produced; but I should hope that at no very long time we shall be able to bring a question of so much interest to the practical issue. It certainly will not be from any want of interest on the part of Her Majesty's Government that that will not be the case.