§ 8. Mr. FRANKLINasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he can make a statement as to the attitude of the Egyptian Government with respect to the payment of annuities of the Turkish Tribute Loan; and whether the Foreign Office was or has since been notified that the financial adviser to the Egyptian Government, in remitting the first instalment due after Turkey's entrance into the War, informed the Bank of England that Egypt would continue to make these payments provisionally, but that at the end of the War the matter would have to be reconsidered?
§ Mr. PONSONBYI understand that the Egyptian Minister has been instructed to present a memorandum explaining the attitude which the Egyptian Government have seen fit to adopt. There is nothing in the records of the Foreign Office to show that a communication of the nature indicated in the question was made to the Bank of England, but His Majesty's Government have never accepted the validity of any suggestion that Egypt is not under the obligation to continue to meet the service of these loans.