§ SIR. CHARLES DILKE (Gloucestershire, Forest of Dean)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any preliminary agreement between France and Great Britain as to the Abyssinian Railway has been 1054 reached; and, if so, whether the consent of the Emperor of Ethiopia has been, obtained, or is expected.
§ MR. LONSDALEI beg also to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign. Affairs whether he is in a position to state the nature of the undertakings given on behalf of this country in the agreement between Great Britain, France, and Italy concerning Abyssinia; and what advantages to British commerce he has endeavoured to obtain from this agreement.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Sir EDWARD GREY,) Northumberland, BerwickAn agreement between Great Britain, France, and Italy has now been provisionally initialled. Steps have been taken to communicate it to the Emperor Menelek, and it will not be signed or published till His Majesty has expressed his views.