§ MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTasked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether the proposed Conference was convened on the suggestion of the Russian Government?
MR. GLADSTONENo, Sir. It is quite evident that the hon. Member's ingenuousness has been the victim of some gross fabrication.
§ MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTsaid, however much his ingenuousness might have been imposed upon, he wished to ask the right hon. Gentleman, whether his attention had been called to a Report in the Blue Book of an interview between Lord Granville and Baron Mohrenheim, the Russian Ambassador, on February 28, in which Baron Mohrenheim said—
It cannot be denied that up till now the reestablishing of order in Egypt by Her Majesty's Government seems to retreat rather than to advance. Difficulties are increasing and extending every day. The Russian Cabinet have looked upon it from the outset as essentially a European question. The Russian Government are of opinion, in view of the increase of the present difficulties, that the moment has arrived when the question may again become the subject of a general understanding. The Russian Government are of opinion that the proposals of Her Majesty's Government for the re-organization of Egypt should be submitted to a collective examination of the Powers.At this awkward stage in the Russian Ambassador's communication Lord Granville said—The hour of meeting of the House of Lords obliged me to interrupt the interview.He wished to ask whether this was not a distinct invitation on the part of the Russian Government for the approaching Conference?
MR. GLADSTONEMy attention was, of course, called to this statement at the time it was made; and I beg to say that it has nothing whatever to do with the Question of the hon. Member which is on the Paper, or with the Conference which is about to meet.