THE EARL OF CARNARVONMy Lords, I wish to put to the noble Earl the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs a series of Questions of which I have given him private Notice—first, Whether it is intended by Her Majesty's Government to propose a Conference on Egyptian affairs; and, if so, when and where it will be held; secondly, what the subject matter of the Conference will be, whether it will be limited strictly to the discussion of financial affairs, or 1012 will embrace the administration of the government of Egypt; and, lastly, whether any of the Powers, and, if so, which of them, have agreed to that proposal from Her Majesty's Government?
§ EARL GRANVILLEMy Lords, the matter is still under negotiation, and, therefore, I can only give general answers to the Questions. Her Majesty's Government have issued a Circular to the five Powers, and have also sent a despatch to the Porte, proposing a Conference to consider whether there should not be some change made in the Law of Liquidation, and, if so, what that change should be. It is proposed that the Conference should be held either in London or at Constantinople; but that question is not yet settled. I may add that from Turkey we have yet had no answer. Four Powers have agreed to the proposal. France has also, in courteous terms, agreed to the principle of the Conference, but wishes to have some preliminary communication with Her Majesty's Government.
THE EARL OF CARNARVONthanked the noble Earl for his statement; but said that, as the question was one he did not wish to lose sight of, he would ask him on Tuesday next whether he could supplement his answer by any further statement.