§ MR. BRIGG (Yorkshire, W. R., Keighley)To ask the Secretary of State
† See (4) Debates, clxxvii., 530.777 for Foreign Affairs at what place and how often do the directors of the Suez Canal hold their meetings; by whom is the appointment made of the seven British directors who represent shipping; and for what term are they appointed.(Answered by Secretary Sir Edward Grey.) The directors of the Suez Canal Company meet, as a rule, at the offices of the company in Paris on the first Monday of every month, but meetings can at any time be summoned by the president should the business of the company require it. In accordance with the agreement come to in 1883, seven of the directors are chosen from among British shipowners and merchants and form a committee, who have an office in London and select a new member as a vacancy occurs, whose appointment is submitted to the council and ratified, as in the case of all other directors, by the general body of shareholders. The directors are appointed for eight years, but may be re-elected at the expiration of this period.