§ MR. H. LABOUCHERE (Northampton)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether France and Russia have stated that they are not prepared to agree to any withdrawal of funds from the Egyptian Caisse de la Dette for the costs of the Soudan Expedition; and whether any of the Powers have intimated that they are of opinion that the decision as to the withdrawal requires only the assent of a majority of the Great Powers?
*MR. CURZONThe question of an advance from the General Reserve Fund for extraordinary expenses lies, not with the Great Powers, but with the Commissioners of the Caisse of the Public Debt. The Austrian, German, and Italian Governments have expressed themselves in favour of such an advance, but it lies with the Commissioners to decide whether they will proceed in this instance, as in others, by the vote of the majority. The majority of them have decided to do so. It is understood that the French Government do not consider that in this case the vote of the majority is sufficient. None of the other Powers have yet formally expressed an opinion on the subject.
§ SIR W. HARCOURTI beg to ask the Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs whether he will state to the House the present situation of the demand made upon the Caisse of the Debt in Egypt for a grant from the Reserve Fund in aid of the military expedition on the Nile and the action taken by the several Powers represented upon the Caisse. I do not know whether the right hon. Gentleman is prepared to make any further statement than he has already made to the hon. Member for Northampton, but I rather gather that he has some additional information to give.
*MR. CURZONThe information received by Her Majesty's Government is to the same effect as that which has appeared in the Press. The Commissioners of the Caisse decided yesterday, by a majority of 4 to 2, to grant a credit of £500,000 to the Egyptian Government from the General Reserve Fund for the purposes of the advance in the Nile Valley. The French and Russian Commissioners made a protest against this decision. In conformity with the decision of the Caisse, a sum of £200,000 was at once paid over to the Egyptian Government. Certain French bondholders have served a notice through the International Tribunals on the Commissioners of the Caisse, protesting against any payment from the Reserve Fund for the expenses of the expedition, and summoning them to appear on the 13th of April before the Tribunals.
§ MR. WILLIAM ALLEN (Newcastle-under-Lyme)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether it is the intention of the Government to send a British expedition to Dongola in the autumn?
§ MR. J. H. DALZIEL (Kirkcaldy Burghs)asked whether it is intended to propose any Vote of public money in respect to the expedition to Dongola?