§ SIR HENRY HOLLAND (for Sir ROBERT PEEL)asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether it is a fact, as stated through Router's Agency, in the following terms:—
That the British Ambassador to Italy has been instructed by Earl Granville to thank the Italian Government officially for the support which the British proposals received from the Italian Delegate at the late Conference, and to declare that the British Government highly appreciate the attitude of Italy at the Conference as indicating an enlightened solicitude for the prosperity of Egypt;whether, inasmuch as Turkey was the only other Power which, according to the Prime Minister and to Papers presented to Parliament, gave its support to the British proposals, similar instructions have been sent to the British Ambassador at Constantinople officially to thank the Ottoman Government, and to declare that the British Government highly appreciate the attitude of Turkey at the Conference as indicating an enlightened solicitude for the prosperity of Egypt; and, whether, following the precedent of 1873, set by the Administration of that day, after the Geneva Conference on the Alabama claims, Her Majesty's Government propose to make any provision for presenting another piece of plate to the Italian Delegate for his enlightened services?
§ LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICEAs I stated yesterday, the British Ambassadors in Italy and Turkey have been instructed to express the thanks of Her Majesty's Government to the Italian Government, and to the Porte, for the cordial support given by the Representatives of those countries at the Conference to the views laid before them by 603 Her Majesty's Government. The terms used are not precisely those on the Paper. They are "enlightened interest," not "enlightened solicitude;" but I do not take any exception to the general terms. In regard to the concluding paragraph, the precedent of 1873 is in no manner applicable. The circumstances are quite different, and there is no intention of following that precedent.