The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-08-09 00:00:00

SUPPLY.

The HOW then went into of Supply,
and proceeded with Class V. of the Civil Service
Estimates. _ _

On the Diplomatic Vote, Sir W. Lawson moved a
reduction of the vote in order to comment on the re-
fusal of the Egyptian Government to permit Mr. Blunt
to laud in Egypt.
Mr. Labouchere, Lord R. Churchill, and Sir J.
M'Kenna supported him in his complaints, while Lord
E. Fitzmaurice maintained that under • the circum-
stances it was perfectly justifiable to exclude Mr.
Blunt.
Mr. Gladstone repeated this and added that the
British Government fully accepted the responsibility.
Referring to some observations of Sir W. Lawson' he
admitted that at times the British Government had
been obliged to interfere in the internal affairs of
apt, but this, he contended, did not amount to an
annihilation of the Khedive's independence, and the
Government were anxious in every way to maintain
the dignity and independence of the Egyptian Govern-
ment.
Mr. M. Henry, Mr. M'Ooan, Mr. Bourke, Sir j.
Maenna, and the Attorney-General spoke on the sub-
ject, after which Mr. O'Donnell called attention to the
neglect of the British Government in permitting the
Italian Government to confiscate the property of the
Propaganda, in which, he contended, a large number of
the Queen's subjects are interested.
Lord E. Fitzmaurice explained that our Ambassador
at Rome had lost no opportunity of using his good
officts.
Mr. A. Moore, Mr. M'Clarthy, Mr. Healy Mr. Dawson,
and others joined in urging the Goversment to interfere
for the protection of the Propaganda.
Mr. Gladstone argued that as a matter of public law
we had no right to interfere, although he admitted that
there was scope for an appeal to good feeling.
In the end a motion made by Mr. O'Donnell to
reduce the vote for the salary of our Ambassador at
Rome was negatived by 91 to 26.
Mr. M'Coan next moved the reduction of the item for
Admiral Hewett's expedition to Abyssinia, and in the
discussion which occurred on this motion, the treaty
with the King of Abyssinia was severely criticised by
Mr. M'Coan himself, Lord R. Churchill, Sir W. Lawson,
Baron H. de Worms, and Mr. Labouchere.
Lord E. Fitzmaurice defended the Treaty article by
article, eulogising it as a transaction favourable to
humanity and the interests of peace, and the motion
having been negatived by 67 to 32, the vote was agreed
to after more than six hours' discussion.

The Consular Vote and several other votes in Class
IV. were also agreed to, and the House adjourned at a
quarter past two o'clock.

In the HOUSE OF LORDS, August 5, Lord Salisbury
asked Lord Granville whether he had any communica-
tion to make to their lordships with respect to the
affairs of Egypt.
Lord Granville stated that the Government had
received her Majesty's gracious approval of their pro-
posal that Lord Northbrook should proceed tp Egypt
for the purpose of advising them both as to the
counsels they should give the Government of Egypt in
the present circumstances, and also as to any measures
which should be taken in connexion therewith. Sir
Evelyn Baring would shorten his leave for the purpose
of accompanying the First Lord.
This announcement was received with cheers from
Ministerial benches.
The Municipal Elections (Corrupt and Illegal
Practices) Bill passed through committee, a clause
being inserted, at the instance of the Marquis of Salis-
bury, by 39 to 37, limiting the operation of the Act to
the end of the year 1886. The Expiring Laws Con-
tinuance Bill was read a third time, and a number of
other measures wore forwarded a stage.

THE FRANCHISE BILL.
Replying to the Earl of Redesdale, Earl Granville
repeated that it was intended in the autumn session to
reintroduce the Franchise Bill in the same manner as it
was introduced in this session. This the Earl of Redes-
dale characterised as a deliberate proposal to keep up
an unfair and unjust charge against the House of Lords;
and the Marquis of Salisbury expressed a hope that
their lordships would never assent to the doctrine that
there was only one legislative body.
Earl Granville, in reply, entered a protest against the
converse doctrine that the House of Commons was
always to yield when the House of Lords differed from
Their lordships rose at five minutes to seven o'clock.

TIIE EGYPTIAN DIFFICULTY.

In the HOUSE OF CommoNs, Mr. Gladstone in fulfil-
ment of his promise ta inform the House of the step
which the Government had in contemplation with
regard to Egypt, stating that they were very conscious
of the serious responsibility which devolved upon them
in consequence of the failure of the Conference.
To assist them in meeting this responsibility,
her , Majesty had been pleased to approve of
a proposal that Lord Northbrook should proceed to
Egypt in order to report to and advise the Government
upon the counsel which they should offer to the Egyp-
tian Government in relation to the present situation of
affairs in Egypt, and also to any steps which it might
be requisite to take in connection therewith. Lord
Northbrook had accepted this commission, and pro-
posed to leave England in the course of the present
month. Sir Evelyn Baring, to whose services the right
hon. gentleman paid a high tribute, reckoned confi-
dently upon being able to accompany the noble lord to
Egypt.
In reply to a request by Sir S. Northcote for more
precise information as to Lord Northbrook's position,
Mr. Gladstone explained that the office which his lord-
ship had accepted would be essentially one of a tem-
porary character, and it would not directly interfere
with the ordinary duties of Sir Evelyn Baring. He
would go with the commission of her Majesty for the
purpose of inquiring and advising; and being a Clabinet
Minister and in entire accord with the other members
of the Government, he would not receive
special instructions. The financial position of
Egypt was, the right hon. gentleman admitted,
very urgent, and he could conceive that
'it might be quite possible for an application to be made
with which her Majesty's Government would have to
deal in the best manner they could pending Lord North-
brook's inquiry; but it was not their intention to take
any step of an immediate character, but, as far as pos-
sible, to reserve the situation for consideration until
after the noble lord's inquiry. In answer to Mr. Cole-
ridge Kennard, Mr. Gladstone intimated that the Porte
had not been consulted as to Lord Northbrook's appoint-
ment.