HC Deb 21 May 1885 vol 298 cc1025-6
MR. GIBSON

asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether it is true that The Bosphore Egyptien has reappeared, or is about to reappear, in Cairo; and, as far as Her Majesty's Government knows, will its publication be under the same conditions as before its suppression?

SIR E. ASSHETON CROSS

I have also a Question to put to the noble Lord with regard to the Papers which were published this morning in reference to this subject. In the first Paper is a despatch from Earl Granville to Sir Evelyn Baring, stating that the publication of the newspaper should no longer be allowed, and that there was no cause for interference with such action as the Egyptian Government might desire to take with regard to it. I wish to ask whether Earl Granville or the Government have taken any steps to ascertain what legal course should be followed in this matter before writing that despatch?

LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICE

In reply to this Question, and to a subsequent one by the hon. Member for Rutland (Mr. J. W. Lowther), I may state that the newspaper in question reappeared last evening. Her Majesty's Government were informed by the French Government previously to its re-appearance that positive assurances had been received from the editor that the paper would create no difficulty by the tone of its articles; and that the editor would be warned that, if he published any matter which could give reasonable offence, the French Consul had instructions to afford assistance to the Egyp- tian Government for the suppression of the paper. In reply to the further Question, I will ask the right hon. Gentleman to put it upon the Paper for tomorrow.

MR. GIBSON

With reference to the answer which the noble Lord has just given, I wish to ask whether Sir Evelyn Baring did not, when he first drew the attention of the Government to this matter, state that the misrepresentations of the paper could not any longer be tolerated without danger to the public tranquillity; whether the decree for its suppression is not still in force; and, whether the Prime Minister did not state, on the 5th of May, that the paper would not be re-issued?

LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICE

In regard to all these Questions, which raise points of detail, especially that as to the opinion of Sir Evelyn Baring, I think it would be better that I should reply to them at the same time as I reply to the Question of the right hon. Gentleman the Member for South-West Lancashire.

SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTE

I wish to ask the Prime Minister a Question arising out of this subject, of which I have given private Notice, with reference to Earl Granville's despatch of the '28th of April to Sir Evelyn Baring—namely, Whether the exchange of views between the English and French Governments with regard to the publication of this paper, and the change in the Press Laws contemplated in the despatch of Earl Granville, has yet taken place; and, if so, with what result?

MR. GLADSTONE

The right hon. Gentleman states that he has given me private Notice of this Question; but it has certainly miscarried. I received his letter as I took my place in this House, and that is not private Notice. I only mention that fact because, had I received the Notice in time, I might have communicated with Earl Granville in reference to it. Speaking from my impressions and recollections, as far as I know, I do not think that that exchange of views had been completed before the republication of The Bosphore Egyptien. There are, however, further communications on the subject going on.

MR. ONSLOW

asked who was to be the judge of reasonable offence?

LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICE

I cannot answer that Question now.