The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-04-25 00:00:00

EGYPT AND FRANCE.

In the Housit or COMMONS Sir Stafford Northcote
asked whether the Government had received any notice
from the Government of Egypt respecting the demands
of the French Government in relation to the suppres-
sion ot the " Bosphore Egyptien ;" what advice had been
given to the Egyptian Government; and if there had
been any direct communication with the Government
of France on the subject.
Mr. Gladstone said it was true that the Egyptian
Government had received certain demands from the
French Government in relation to the circumstances
connected with the suppression of the " Bosphore
Egyptien," and a correspondence was going on between
her Majesty's Government and the other two Govern-
ments on the subject. The desire of kr Majesty's
Government was that the Egyptian Governikent should
act in strict conformity with the provisions of the law
in Egypt, and, of course, the provisions of the law in
Egypt were apt to touch upon the provisions of
International law. He had no reason to believe that
the Egyptian Government had any other view than that
which was taken by her Majesty's Government. The
right hon. gentleman further stated, in answer to Lord
R. Churchill, that the Egyptian Government did not
act alone in the matter, and that her Majesty's Govern-
ment were not in a position to disclaim all responsi-
bility for their action, nor did they disclaim it.

AFGHAN AFFAIRS.

Sir Stafford North-cote then asked whether the
Premier would be prepared, on presenting the Vote of
Credit, to make a statement with regard to the position
of affairs on the Afghan frontier, and whether the
Ameer had made any representations to the Indian
Government on the subj ect.
Mr. Gladstone replied that the Vote of Credit would
be presented on Tuesday, and that on its presentation
he should limit himself to making a concise statement,
having no other view than that the vote should be
thoroughly understood. With regard to the Afghan
frontier question, he had, in point of fact, nothing to
add to what he said on former occasions. On Friday
he stated that a telegram had been received from Sir
Peter Lumsden, and that, if it were found to contain
matter of importance which could properly be com-
municated to the House, he should take the first
moment to make it known. That he said in the belief
that it would be an answer to various inquiries
and instructions despatched from this country
on the 10th of April; but it was not so, and it
was necessary to wait for that answer before he
could make a complete statement to the House.
He did not say, however, that the telegram was not of
importance, inasmuch as it confirmed Sir P. Lumsden's
previous statement, and was certainly in conflict with
the telegram forwarded to her Majesty's Government
containing the statement of General Komaroff. There
was no doubt that the Ameer had made representa-
tions respecting the question of the frontier to the
Viceroy of India, who on his part thought it his duty
to exchange views with the Ameer; and he (Mr.
Gladstone) had in mind those communications when on
a former occasion he gave an assurance that they were
most satisfactory.
After some discussion it was resolved to give pre-
cedence to any bills for the registration of voters.
The House then went into Committee of Supply on
the Navy Estimates, the debate on which occupied the
greater part of the evening.