§ MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether he will state to the House the substance of the communications, or lay upon the Table the communications, addressed to Her Majesty's Government by Foreign Powers upon the subject of the late Agreement regarding the Suez Canal, and especially the communications from Germany, Austria, and Italy?
§ LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICEThe only communication from any Foreign Power addressed to Her Majesty's Government is that from the Porte, to which I referred in my reply to my right hon. Friend the Member for King's Lynn (Mr. Bourke) on the 19th instant.
§ MR. J. LOWTHERasked whether the noble Lord had not yesterday stated that communications had been received from Russia and France?
§ LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICEI tried to explain yesterday that communications had been received in reply to Lord Granville's Circular Despatch, which was sent to Foreign Powers generally, relative to a different matter. If the right hon. Gentleman has not forgotten that Circular Despatch, the difference of opinion that arose between us yesterday would not have taken place. I stated yesterday that replies had been received to that Despatch from Russia and France.
§ MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTasked whether it was the fact that a protest had been received from Germany against the proposals of the Government, and against the monopoly of M. de Lesseps?
§ LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICEI have already distinctly said that no communications have been received.
§ SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTEWill the answers that have been received from Russia and France be included in the Papers about to be published?
§ LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICEI stated yesterday that they would be included in the Blue Book, which will be delivered to hon. Members either today or to-morrow.