§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKEasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, If he can inform the House what is the present position of the question pending between the Egyptian Government and the Suez Canal Company, as to the consent of Egypt to the widening of the Canal?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. BOURKE)The Suez Canal Company having applied to the Egyptian Government for their consent to an alteration of their Statutes in connection with the loan of £4,000,000 which they wish to contract for the purposes of the new works of improvement, the Egyptian Government have refused, on the ground that the project involves the widening of the Canal beyond the dimensions authorized by the original concession, and that the consent of the Khedive must be obtained to this feature of the plan. The Company hold that, as the works are to be executed within the limits of the land belonging to them, there is no legal or equitable ground for this contention. Her Majesty's Government has taken the advice of certain legal persons in respect to it, and Papers are now before the Law Officers of the Crown.
§ MR. SUTHERLANDWith reference to the reply now made, I would be glad if the right hon. Gentleman would state whether he is aware that, so far from the Suez Canal Company requiring additional territory for the purpose of excavating, or rather enlarging, the present channel of the Suez Canal, it is a matter of fact that the Canal at present covers the ground which is now necessary for the purposes of enlargement, and all that is necessary is that a further excavation be made in the space already covered by the water of the Canal?
§ MR. BOURKEIn a matter of fact of this kind, raised by my hon. Friend, I should not like to give a definite answer which would be taken as official; but I know my hon. Friend is so very well acquainted officially with everything 305 connected with this question, and also with the details of the construction of the Suez Canal, that, in all probability, the assertion he has made is accurate.