Morning journal and courier., 1883-07-24
THE OLD WORLD.
Great Britain.

The SueZ CnnaI-GladEtOne Anxious to
 Shfrk Discussion of the De Lesseps
 Agreement - The ResOIutIon that
 Troubles 1he Government
 LONDON, July 23.-The attitude assumed by Mir Gladstone when the canal question in its newest form came up in the House of Commons this evening is regarded as the practical abandonment of the scheme of projected second canal. It is probable that the De Lesseps agreement will either bs formally abandoned in few days or that the temporizing plan of reference to a com mittee will keep the whole matter in abey- ance until the canal company shall have secured all the assistance it may need from French sources, for the adoption of this policy is evident in the strong opposition which the agreement excited in high com mercial circles and which has been sufficient ly strong to threaten serious divisions in the Liberal ranks and the certain defeat of the government, defeat which in a short time might lead to dissolution of the present Parliament The hopes that the formal dis cussion would be begun to-day attracted a grt at many people to St. Stephens. Still the probable policy of the ministry had been so far discounted by the press that little dis
 appointment was felt. When MT. Gladstone arose to reply to the interrogatory of last week as to when time could be fixed for the discussion of the agreement the atten dance of members was larger than it has been for 8 long time He said it was impos- sible longer to deny that the question of a second canal connecting the Mediter- ranean and the Red Sea was a ques- tlon of the greatest importance and that it involved directly the most serious in terests of two great powers. Under such circumstances the discussion of the agree
 ment to day before there had been perhaps sufficient time for full und erstanding to be had of the issues involved might tend to em
 bitter international relations. That would be a misfortune and could we'll be avoided
 He desired it, however, to be thoroughly un derstood that her majestys government was in no sense in sympathy with the party which desired to assert English supremacy on the Isthmus of Suez. The ministry earnestly disclaimed any intention of using it's present power in the East in any such direction. It | had undoubtedly an influence growing out oi | the peculiar position temporarily occupied l by Egypt quite exceptional position, but l that influence should never be employed tC procure the abatement of any rights which had been lawfully obtained by anyone 1 This must necessarily be the attitude of the government since the canal matter was SC completely international in it's aspect that | 1t was one, of common interest to all the l European powers. England would do noth | ing inconsistent with that fact. The Pre- 1 mier said that it was desirable to pass the matter for the present for many reasons and | the ministry would be willing to drop the whole question of the De Lesseps agreement l for the present session. The question in- 1 volyed in the construction of a second cana
 could to advantage be referred to commit. l tee, who would have during recess abundant
 opportunity to consider the limit and right 1 ful scope of any measures involving English assistance and to determine the conditions or | which it should be given.
 Sir Stafford Northcote the Conservative I leader did not agree with the Premier on sev. eral essential points and denied the interna. 1 tional character of the canal question in its 1 present phase. He must on behalf of his 1 party insist on the right of the opposition to discuss the question whenever the govern l ment brought 1t up. After further brief dis
 cussion the subject was dropped.
 1 The following is the wording of the dread | ed motion which Sir Stafford announced would be prepared. and of whose discussion the minority is afraid. He will move s'that this House declines to give it's sanction to the pro-
 visional agreement made between her majes- 1 tvs government and the Suez Canal company l on the 10th of July, 18S3." A canvass of the | House shows that this motion, which would nearly approach vote of lack of confidence in the government, would be carried with | little difficulty. The entire Irish faction
 would vote with the Conservatives and the | opposition would have the support of about thirty Liberals, while probably as many more Liberal members would refuse altogether to participate in the division