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

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

In the Homo or LORDS, August 4, Lord Granville
laid en the table tapers relating to the proceedings of
the Conference, and announced that it had adjourned
sine die without having come to an agreement.
,Having read a condensed statement of the proposals
and counter-proposals of the English and French
Plenipotentiaries, he informed their lordships that the
Other Powers were ready to concur in any agreement
arrived at by England and France; but he thought
their lordships would be of opinion that it was im-
possible for her Majesty's Government to accede to
what France had proposed. They were anxious that
Egypt should meet all just claims on her, but it
was their duty to see that she could live. While
they were grateful to Italy and Turkey for the support
given them by those Powers, they felt they had no just
reason to complain of the Powers which resolved to
remain neutral when they found that there was irrecon-
cilable difference between England and France. Her
Majesty's Government were conscious of the great re-
sponsibility which devolved upon them in consequence
of the failure of the Conference. The manner in which
they ought to acquit themselves of that responsibility
was a subject which would require much consideration;
but they contemplated some preliminary steps which
he hoped to be able to communicate to their lordships
on the following evening.
Lord Salisbury, while giving credit to Lord Granville
for having made his statement as clear as possible in
the circumstances, observed that their lordships would
have to go through the papers before they could under-
stand the details of the matter. The expedient to
which her Majesty's Government had resorted was a
clumsy and a dangerous one for had their plan been
adopted by the Conference it must have resulted in a
Multiple Control. They seemed to have taken alarm
very late, but not too late, and Egypt was to be con-
gratulated. He condemned the idea of governing that
country by anything like a Multiple or an Inter-
national Control. He was glad that her Majesty's
Government recognised their responsibility, for it
was a serious one. They had declared that the re-
sources at the command of the Egyptian Ministry were
insufficient to carry on the government of the country.
The Conference having having come to an inauspicious
end, how were additional resources to be had, no vote
for the purpose having been taken in the House of
Commons? However, as Lord Granville had promised
a statement as to proposed preliminary steps, it would
be premature at that moment to pursue the matter
further. _ _

Lord Granville, replying to Lord Houghton, stated
that the accounts of the Egyptian Government were
now very well kept.
The Expiring Laws Continuance Bill went through
committee, and, the other orders having been disposed
of, their lordships rose at twenty-five minutes after six
o'clock.

In the HousE OF CommoNs, in answer to Sir W.
Barttelot, Mr. Gladstone said he intended to move a
Vote of Credit to enable Her Majesty to undertake
operations for the relief of General Gordon if it were
necessary, and to make certain preparations for the
purpose.
'II,LE SLAVE TRADE IN EGYPT.
Sir G. Campbell asked whether effect is to be given
in Egypt Proper to the Convention of 1877, under
which the buying and selling of human beings is pro-
hibited under severe penalties, from the 17th inst., to
which Lord E. Fitzmaurice replied that her Majesty's
Government had no reason to doubt the intention of
the Khedive to give due effect to his treaty engage-
ments in regard to Egypt Proper and they lost no
opportunity ot pressing upon the Egyptian Government
the necessity of observing their engagements in regard
to the treatment of the questions of the slave trade and
slavery. c