MR. GIBSON BOWLESI beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs is the French or the English text of the Anglo-French Declaration of 8th April, 1904, respecting Egypt and Morocco the binding text; why is the expression in the French text in Article II., where by Great Britain recognises that it appertains to France to "veiller à la tran-quillté" of Morocco, represented in the English text by the larger expression to "preserve order" in that country: why is the French expression in Article VII. Prohibiting fortification and strategic works on the Moroccan coast"comprise entre Melilla et les hauteurs qui dominent la rive droite du Sébou," represented in the English text by, "comprised between, but not including, Melilla and the heights which command the right bank of the river Sebou," does the introduction into the English text of the words "but not including" exclude both Melilla and the Sebou heights or Melilla alone; and does the limitation of the mutual engagement, contained in Article IV., to thirty years, apply to Article IV. alone or to all the nine Articles of the Declaration.
§ EARL PERCYBoth texts are binding. As regards the two phrases referred to, the wording of each text appears very happily to reproduce the meaning of the other. The use or the word"exlcusive-ment" in the French text seems to have escaped my hon. friend's notice. The "exclusion" applies both to Melilla and to the heights which command the right bank of the Sebou. The thirty years limitation applies only to Aiticle IV.