§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYI should like to ask a Question of the noble Earl the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, of which I have given him pri- 1052 vate Notice, with reference to the statements made by the President of the Council in the French Chamber. I wish to ask the noble Earl, Whether he can give the House any indication of the policy which Her Majesty's Government propose to pursue with regard to an armed occupation of any portion of Egypt? The two statements of M. de Freycinet to which I refer are, if correctly reported—first, that the French Government had resolved upon armed intervention in Egypt; and, secondly, that the French and English Governments had come to an agreement, which they wore about to submit to the Conference, for the guardianship of the Suez Canal. As regards the latter, we were assured in this House, by Her Majesty's Government, that they looked upon the Suez Canal as a matter outside the Conference. I shall, therefore, be glad to hear what the noble Earl has to say now upon the point.
§ EARL GRANVILLEI have to state that on Monday next my right hon. Friend (Mr. Gladstone) will ask for a Vote of Credit in the House of Commons, and on the same day, with your Lordships permission, I will make a statement to your Lordships on the policy of Her Majesty's Government in respect of the affairs of Egypt,