MR. GIBSON BOWLESI beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can explain the grounds on which His Majesty's Government have agreed by their joint Declaration with France, of 8th April, 1904, that the execution shall remain suspended of the last sentence of Paragraph. One and the whole of Paragraph Two or Article VIII. of the Suez Canal Convention of 29th October, 1888. which paragraphs prescribe for the meeting once a year of the Agents of the signatory Powers, under the presidency of a Turkish or Egyptian Commissioner; have any, and, if so, which, of the other seven out of the nine Signatory Powers of the Convention been consulted respecting the alteration thus proposed to be made therein, and have they consented to the alteration; and do His Majesty's Government propose, without obtaining the assent of the other co-Signatory Powers, to hold themselves relieved from the obligations of this portion of the Convention while requiring the fulfilment of its remaining obligations.
§ THE UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE TOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Earl PERCY,) Kensington, S.The execution of the portions of the Convention referred to has, as the result of our occupation of Egypt, remained suspended ever since its signature. None of the Signatory Powers have at any time claimed that they should be executed. The question whether a formal communication shall be made to them on the subject will be considered.
MR. GIBSON BOWLESThe noble Lord has not answered any of my Questions. Have any of the other Signatory Powers been consulted; have they agreed to the alteration?
§ EARL PERCYNone of them have been communicate I with on the subject.