§ MR. ERRINGTONasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether, besides the regular Law Officers of the Crown, there are any departmental legal officials specially conversant with questions relating to international obligations and law, and whose competence on such subjects is generally recognised; whether such officials have been consulted as to the alleged exclusive privileges of the Suez Canal Company; and, if so, what opinion they have given; and, if he will ascertain whether this point was considered; and, if so, what opinion respecting it was formed by those officials at the time of the purchase by this country of the Khedive's shares in 1875?
§ LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICEYes, Sir; there are Departmental officials specially conversant with International Law; but the Parliamentary Advisers of the Crown are alone responsible.