§ MR. LEWISasked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether, the pledge of the Government to submit the result of the Conference on Egyptian Finance, and the preliminary agreement with Prance, to the judgment of Parliament, when the labours of the Conference are ended, involves the submission of the whole matter to the judgment of the two Houses of Legislature in this Country; and, whether the Government will propose to take such judgment by a vote affirmatively approving such result and agreement, or how do they propose to obtain such judgment.
MR. GLADSTONEWithout reference to the particular words in the hon. Member's Question, the language which I used was intended to convey that the whole proceedings of the Government in relation to the preliminary agreement with Franco, and the transactions that might take place in the Conference—if they do take place—will become entirely subject to the judgment of Parliament. I answer, therefore, the second part of the Question by saying that we anticipate obtaining an affirmative vote in the House of Commons, which will have the effect either of sustaining or of overthrowing that arrangement.
MR. GLADSTONEI have no doubt that in "another place" there will be plenty of disposition to ascertain whether the proceedings will be dependent upon the judgment of both Houses.
§ SIR H. DRUMMOND WOLFFasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any date had been fixed for the next meeting of the Conference, and, if so, what that date was?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. CHILDERS)No date has been fixed.