The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-06-28 00:00:00

THE CONFERENCE.--MINISTERIAL STATEMENT.

Mr. Gladstone laid on the table papers relating to
the proposed Conference on Egyptian affairs, and pro-
ceeded to make his promised statement on the subject.
Some months ago her Majesty's Government thought it
their duty to invite the Powers of Europe to meet in
conference on the question of Egyptian finance, and
the French Government being the Power most entitled
to take the lead in this matter, had asked for explana-
tions, which her Majesty's Government most readily
gave. The result was to remove the barriers which
had formerly obstructed them, and to enable them to
lay before Parliament a policy which, both for Egypt
and our own position, there would, he hoped, be a com-
plete one—that was, a policy not dependent upon the
mere judgment of the Executive Government, but which
must have the distinct ratification and assent of Parlia-
ment. The French Government had given an un-
qualified assurance that they totally abandoned the
idea of reviving the dual control, and were ready to
enter into the most formal engagements not to occupy
Egypt with French troops in the event of our retiring
from the country. This assurance therefore put an
end to all idea of solitary action on the part of any
particular Power. With respect to the term of our
occupation of Egypt it was proposed by her Majesty's
Government that it should cease on the Ist of January,
1888, in case the Powers should then declare that the
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the country to withdraw. With respect to the inter-
national arrangements to which Egypt was subject,
especially that relating to the machinery for the
management of the Egyptian debt, the two Powers had
agreed that henceforth there should be no general con-
trol over Egyptian finance and that the Budget should
not be framed by the Commissioners of the Caisse. A
limited extension of power would be given to the Caisse
in order to prevent the recurrence of financial embar-
rassment and disaster. The Commission of the Caisse
was composed of four members, and the president of it
would be an Englishman. To avert danger in the
future the Govemmerts of England and France had
agreed that the former should prepare a plan for the
neutralisation of the Egyptian territory, including the
Suez Canal. This agreement depended on what was
done at the Conference, and if no result was arrived at
the agreement would fall to tho ground. The right
hon. gentleman proceeded to say that what
was done in the Conference would be subject to
the approval of Parliament. The first meeting
of the Conference would be held on Saturday next, and
in the meantime the figures of the plan would be for-
warded to each of the Powers, so that they might arrive
at the Conference with some degree of preparation.
He gave a pledge to the House that when the Con-
ference had come to a decision not a day should be lost
in submitting it to Parliament, whose positive duty it
would be to pronounce a definite judgment on the sub-
ject. The Government believed that their plans, if
adopted, would be favourable to international law, to
the peace of Europe, and to the civilisation of man-
kind; and they would be the first to say that if those
plans did not meet with the approval of Parliament
then those who had framed them should not for one
moment longer continue in the Government of the
country.
Sir S. Northcote observed that in calling the HOUR)
into council on this subject the Government had neces-
sarily laid upon it a certain amount of responsibility.
With regard to the limitation of the period of occupa-
tion, that raised a question of a serious character,
deserving and requiring the judgment of the House as
early as possible, even though the complete terms were
not before Parliament. As to the financial proposals,
which might seriously affect the interests of this
country, it was desirable that the House should insist
upon further information with respect to them. He
should take the earliest opportunity of asking for an
expression of the opinion of Parliament before the Con-
ference entered into the question.
In the course of the discussion that followed, Lord
R. Churchill said that, having listened carefully to Mr.
Gladstone's statement, he hardly knew whether to
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sidered, had gone out of his wiy to make concessions to
France, and he should refuse to give a blank cheque to
Ministers to go into the Conference.
Mr. Gosehen deprecated any discussion on the subject
at present as premature.

Bourke, Sir R. Cross, Lord J. Manners, Mr. A.
Balfour, Mr. Labouchere, Mr. Forster, and ether mem-
bers also made some remarks, and, after a brief reply
from Mr. Gladstone, the subject dropped.
THE FRANCHISE BILL.
On the consideration of the Representation of the
People Bill as amended, Mr. Tomlinson moved a new
clause establishing a qualification by payment of in-
come tax, which, on a division, was re3ected by 108
to 24.

Mr. M. Lloyd proposed to disqualify for one year after
the expiration of his sentence any person convicted of
felony, or other crime, and sentenced to penal servitude
or imprisonment with hard labour.
The Attorney-General assented to the clause on con-
dition that it applied only to convictions on indictment,
and after a long discussion the second reading of the
clause was carried by a majority of 114 to 81, and the
Attorney-General's proposal to amend it by the inser-
tion of the words "on indictment " was also carried by
198 to 35.

On the motion of Colonel Nolan the clause was
further amended by providing that the conviction
should be by a jury. This was carried by 149 to 111.
After a discussion on other amendments, lasting over
four hours, Mr. E. Clarke moved the adjourpment of
the debate, which was rejected by 174 to 89.
Ultimately a division was taken on the question that
the clause stand part of the bill, and it was rejected by
156 to 102.

The further consideration of the report was then ad-
journed.
The Royal Courts of Justice Bill was considered in
committee.

The House then adjourned at twenty minutes to
three o'clock

In the VOUSE or LORDS, June 24, Lord Carrington,
replying to Lord De La Warr, stated that the pre-
cautions against the introduction of cholera which were
ordered last year by the Local Government Board were
still in force.
Lord Redesdale's bill for the prevention of cruelty in
connexion with pigeon shooting matches passed through
Committee after several amendments.
The Criminal Law Amendment Bill was read a third
time, on a division, by 101 to 45. •
The Summary Jurisdiction over Ohildten (Ireland)
Bill was read a third time and passed, and several bills
having been advanced a stage,
Their lordships rose at twenty-five minutes to eight
o'clock.