§ LORD LAMINGTONgave Notice that on Monday he would ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether his attention had been called to the language of M. de Freycinet in the French Chamber on May 11—
Two things have pre-occupied us. The first, to preserve to France the justly privileged situation she has in Egypt; the preponderating influence arising from her work in Egypt of every kind for a century back, and from the presence of a French colony, which worthily upholds in that country the flag of our nation. Yes, the presence of that colony, an outpost of France, imposes on us duties from which we are determined not to swerve.and, whether Her Majesty's Government are prepared to recognize the preponderating influence of France in Egypt?
EARL DE LA WARE, in pursuance of private Notice, desired to ask the Foreign Secretary, Whether it was convenient to him to give any information relative to the state of affairs in Egypt?
§ EARL GRANVILLEMy Lords, the noble Earl has given me Notice of this Question; I have also received a Notice from the noble Marquess opposite (the Marquess of Salisbury) to the same effect; and I am still more anxious to give the House what information I can on this subject. But it would be highly disadvantageous to the Public Service that I should do so at present. If the noble Earl will permit me to postpone answering his Question, I will, at the next Sitting of the House, give as full a statement of the circumstances as is consistant with the interests of the Public Service.