§ MR. GOOCH (Bath)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government approve Lord Cromer's proposals for the modification of the capitulations in Egypt; and, if so, when they intend to bring them before the notice of the Powers concerned.
§ SIR EDWARD GREYIt will be seen, on reference to Lord Cromer's Report (page 3), that his remarks respecting the modification of the capitulations are made in order to elicit an expression of local opinion which will be fully and impartially considered before any final and more detailed proposals are laid before His Majesty's Government. Any expression of opinion on the part of His Majesty's Government at this stage would, therefore, be premature; what they desire is that the question to which Lord Cromer has called attention should receive attentive and impartial consideration, with a view to securing eventually reforms, which will be both effective and acceptable.