§ LORD RANDOLPH CHURCHILLasked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether there exists, in the archives of the Foreign Office, any document or diplomatic instrument establishing any covenant pledging Her Majesty's Government earnestly to support the Government of the Khedive; and, if so, whether he will lay it upon the Table of the House?
§ LORD GEORGE HAMILTONsaid, he would also ask the right hon. Gentleman, If he can name any covenant or official document pledging this Country earnestly to support the Government of the Khedive other than the Joint Note presented in January 1882, by the representatives of France and England, to the Government of Egypt, and which is described by the late Monsieur Gambetta, its originator, as an official assurance (to the Khedive) of the support of their two Governments against all the difficulties which result from the present situation in the Country (page 34, Egypt No. 5, 1882), and which was accepted 1800 by Her Majesty's present advisers, with this reservation alone—
That they must not be considered as committing themselves thereby to any particular mode of action, if action should be found necessary (page 35, Egypt No. 5, 1882).
MR. GLADSTONEUndoubtedly, Sir, there is evidence in the Foreign Office which, I think, would sustain the allegation which the noble Lord opposite (Lord Randolph Churchill) has adduced. The Government have no objection whatever to the production of it; but there are other two parties to be considered. The one is the Members of the late Government; and it would also be necessary, by usage, to ascertain that there are no parts of the document or documents to the production of which the French Government would object. Subject to those reservations, there is no objection whatever. If I am informed that the late Government do not object, that will dispose of one part of the case, and we can immediately proceed to ascertain how matters stand as to the French Government. I think the noble Lord is perfectly justified in asking the Question.
§ MR. BOURKEOn the part of the late Government, I have to state that there is no objection whatever to the production of the documents alluded to by the right hon. Gentleman.
MR. GLADSTONEI would suggest that it would be convenient if the right hon. Gentleman opposite (Mr. Bourke) would communicate with my noble Friend the Under Secretary of State (Lord Edmond Fitzmaurioe) as to the particular Papers; and, in that case, perhaps he would like to put down a Motion on the Paper, and afterwards we would proceed to ascertain the opinion of the French Government. The noble Lord the Member for Middlesex (Lord George Hamilton) will, perhaps, have gathered from what I have said that his Question is substantially answered.
§ LORD GEORGE HAMILTONI understand the right hon. Gentleman to say that there are documents which can be produced to substantiate his allegation—
That it cannot be too clearly understood that the covenants under which this country has been acting in Egypt were not made by the present Government.
§ MR. BOURKEI hope, therefore, it is clearly understood that these documents will be produced, if there is no objection on the part of the French Government.