Larissa Railway against the Greek they have taken any, and, if so, what, Government, who, having first made steps in regard to the matter; and, whedefault in payment of the instalments ther they will make inquiry into the due to the contractors for work done on subject? the railway, then arbitrarily cancelled MR. CURZON: None of the news. the contract, notwithstanding the fact papers referred to have reached the that they had obtained a loan of Foreign Office with the exception of £3,595,000 for the express purpose of copies of the Moniteur Oriental of the making the railway, which conduct on 19th and 20th inst., in which allusion is the part of the Greek Government has made to the case of Guerillot v. The occasioned to the contractors serious Building Society. We are not acquainted losses, for which they have not been able with the details of that case, but inquiry to obtain any redress; and, whether Her will be made. Majesty's advisers will take such steps as may be required to enforce the claims of the contractors?

BRITISH SOUTH AFRICAN COMPANY.

THE UNDER SECRETARY OF MR. JOHN ELLIS (Nottingham, STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS Rushcliffe): I beg to ask the Secretary (Mr. GEORGE CURZON, Lancashire, South- of State for the Colonies, when the list port): Unofficial representations have of shareholders of the British South on several occasions been made to the African Company on the 31st December Greek Government in connection with 1895, will be placed in the Library? the claim of the English contractors for THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR the Piræus-Larissa Railway. These re- THE COLONIES (Mr. J. CHAMBERLAIN, presentations have not been successful, Birmingham, W.): I have agreed, at the Greek Government maintaining that the instance of the Chartered Company, the contractors have failed to fulfil their to a slight modification of what was proengagements, and that they must be left to their legal remedies. The contractors have been informed of this decision, and told that the matter is not one which in its present state admits of official diplomatic intervention. They, however, maintain that they have already exhausted the legal remedies open to them, and that there has been a clear denial of public justice which would warrant such intervention. They are preparing a statement to this effect, which, when received, will be duly considered.

BRITISH CONSULATE AT CON-
STANTINOPLE.

posed in reference to their list of shareholders. They will furnish very shortly a list of the shareholders as it stood on July 6th last, when they made a fresh issue of capital, and a little later another list of the shareholders as it will stand on the 31st instant, the last day of the Company's financial year. They represent to me that these two lists can be furnished rather sooner than a list for December 31st last.

ARREST UNDER THE DEBTORS' ACT (IRELAND).

MR. JASPER TULLY (Leitrim, S.) I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (1) MR. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn whether his attention has been directed Regis): I beg to ask the Under Secre- to the arrest, in the town of Boyle, on tary of State for Foreign Affairs, whe- Monday 17th February last, of Mr. ther Her Majesty's Government are Patrick M'Manamy, a shop assistant, aware that the Stamboul, the Orient, the for inability to pay law costs incurred by Moniteur Oriental, the Sabach, and the him in an action in which he was Ikdaru newspapers, published in Con- unsuccessful for arrears of salary; (2) stantinople, have alleged the existence whether it is legal to keep the man, who of grave irregularities among the officials has no visible means, in confinement, of the British Consulate at Constanti- under the Debtors' Act, for non-payment nople; whether they have received any, of law costs; and (3) whether under and, if so, what, information from Her the circumstances, the Lord Lieutenant Majesty's Ambassador at Constantinople for Ireland will direct Mr. M'Manamy's relative to these charges, and whether release from Tullamore Prison? Mr. A. Helder.

MR. GERALD BALFOUR: My to practice and to convenience to make attention had not previously been drawn public the views of various advisers of to the arrest of this man, but I now the Government upon any particular learn he was arrested on the date men- proposal.

tioned, under an Attachment Order MR. H. LABOUCHERE (Northissued by the Queen's Bench Division ampton): Do I understand the right for non-payment of a debt incurred by hon. Gentleman to say that the military him in an action for wages. Whether, authorities recommended the forward or not, he is unable to pay it is not for movement, or that Lord Cromer recomme to say. The case has been tried mended it before the expedition was before a jury, and it is no part of my decided on? duty to express an opinion as to the legality of the man's imprisonment. The reply to the last paragraph is in the negative.

SERVICE INTERPRETERS.

MR. J. T. FIRBANK (Hull, E.): I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War, whether the pay of Naval officers as interpreters in the Fleet is reduced this year from £600 to £500; and what is the annual grant in the Army for such services?

MR. CURZON: I may repeat what I said in my answer, which I think was quite clear that the military authorities, both in England and Egypt, were in favour of the forward movement.

MR. LABOUCHERE: Yes, but was Lord Cromer?

swered in regard to Lord Cromer. [OpMR. CURZON: I have already anposition cries of "No, no!" and Ministerial cheers.]

MR. ALLEN: I did not quite understand the answer of the right hon. Gentleman. Did the right hon. Gentleman say that Lord Cromer also approved the

forward movement?

*MR. BRODRICK: I perceive that in the Navy Estimates £100 less is taken for interpreters this year than last year. Any further information should be obMR. CURZON: I must have made tained from my hon. Friend the Secre- myself singularly unintelligible; and, if tary to the Admiralty. As regards the so, I beg pardon. What I said was that Army, rates are fixed by the Royal it was entirely contrary both to practice Warrant for officers acting as interpreters; but no sum is taken in the Estimates for the service, except in time of war. There is a charge of £1,500 for civilian interpreters, principally expended in Egypt.

EGYPTIAN EXPEDITION.

and convenience to make public to the House the views of any individual advisers of Her Majesty's Government. [Cheers.]

MR. LABOUCHERE: May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he considers what inference will be drawn from his answer? ["Hear, hear!"]

MR. CURZON: The hon. Gentleman MR. WILLIAM ALLEN (Newcastle- is at liberty to draw whatever inference under-Lyme) I beg to ask the Under he pleases. [Ministerial cheers and Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, laughter.]

whether any notification was made by MR. LEONARD COURTNEY Lord Cromer favourable to an advance (Bodmin, Cornwall): The real question of Egyptian or British troops to Dongola is, whether "who" in the answer refers prior to the order for the present expe- to Lord Cromer dition into the Soudan?

MR. CURZON: The expedition was decided upon by Her Majesty's Government in consultation with the military authorities in England, after previous communications with Lord Cromer and the military authorities in Egypt, who had expressed the opinion that a forward movement against the Dervishes should be made. More than one alternative was discussed; but it would be contrary

VOL. XXXIX. [FOURTH SERIES.]

hear!"]

or not. ["Hear,

MR. CURZON: The words I used were these:

"The expedition was decided upon by Her Majesty's Government in consultation with the military authorities in England, after previous communication with Lord Cromer and the military authorities in Egypt, who had expressed the opinion-[eries of Who?'-that a forward movement against the Dervishes should be made.”

K

GOVERNMENT SERVICE TELEGRAMS.

MR. SWIFT MACNEILL (Donegal, S.) I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, why, having regard to the fact that officers of the Crown whose salaries are provided for out of the Imperial funds are empowered to send telegrams on Government service without payment, answers to these telegrams, which are frequently imperatively demanded, should be charged for, and, whether arrangements will be made to send free of expense replies by telegram to official communications when these are specifically demanded?

MR. HANBURY: A responsible officer of the Crown at the headquarters of a Government Department may, if the circumstances justify it, send a telegram on official business to a member of the public as a reply paid telegram; and the Postmaster General, in whose opinion I concur, thinks this is as far as he can allow the privilege to extend.

Mr. Curzon.

FEE GRANT (IRELAND).

MR. KNOX: I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, whether he is aware that the Fourth Schedule of the 18th Section of the Irish Education Act, 1892, lays upon the Commissioners of National Education the imperative duty of distributing the whole sum voted by Parliament as a fee grant among the teachers; and, whether the Commissioners have, nevertheless, returned in each year an unexpended balance to the Treasury?

MR. HANBURY: The interpretation of the law on this point is primarily a question for the Education Board to decide, not the Treasury. The Education Board have returned unexpended balances each year, as follows :— :-1892-3, £582; 1893-4, £3,035; 1894-5, £867.

MIXED MARRIAGES (MALTA). MR. E. BLAKE (Longford, S.): I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies, whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that meetings having been lately held in Malta, protesting against an Order in Council on the subject of the celebration of mixed marriages, the Governor has proclaimed as an unlawful assembly the meeting of three or more persons, and that this step has created considerable discontent in the island; and, whether the Governor acted in this matter with the knowledge or under the advice of Her Majesty's Gov

ernment?

MR. J. CHAMBERLAIN: I am

aware that meetings have been held in Malta protesting against the Report of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council on the subject of the celebration in Malta of mixed marriages, but I have

not heard that the Governor has issued

any proclamation on the subject.

ACCIDENTS AT NINE ELMS STATION.

MR. A. J. MUNDELLA (Sheffield, Brightside): I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade, whether his attention has been called to four fatal accidents to railway servants which have recently occurred at Nine Elms goods station; and, whether he will institute an Inquiry into the causes of these accidents, and as to how far they are due to excessive hours of working and the insufficiency of space and lighting in the sheds ?

THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD MR. CURZON: I do not think that OF TRADE (Mr. C. T. RITCHIE, Croy- is a question which can be said to arise don) I assume that the right hon. out of that which I have answered. Gentleman refers to the accidents to men [Ministerial cheers.] named Pitcher, Taylor, Middleditch and Few respectively. Inquests have been held in each case, and I deprecate as a rule the duplication of inquiries. Where, however, serious accidents follow each other closely at a particular place there is a prima facie case for investigation and I will therefore order an Inquiry.

TELEGRAPH FACILITIES (COUNTY
DUBLIN).

MR. J. J. CLANCY: I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether any decision has yet been come to as to the extension of the telegraph to Lusk, county of Dublin?

MR. HANBURY: The extension has been authorised, and will be carried out as soon as possible?

MILITARY EXPEDITION TO DONGOLA.

MR. WILLIAM REDMOND: I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Porte has protested against the Nile Expedition; and, whether any notice was given to Turkey of the intention of Her Majesty's Government to advance upon Dongola?

MR. WILLIAM ALLEN: I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether communications have been received from the Turkish Government in any way opposing the Dongola expedition?

MR. GIBSON BOWLES: Is the Sultan of Turkey not the Sovereign both of Egypt and the Soudan ?

MR. CURZON: The hon. Gentleman is as well aware of these facts as I am myself, and I do not see why he should ask me for information he already possesses. [Laughter.]

MR. W. REDMOND: I will put down my Question.

MADRAS LAND REVENUE
ADMINISTRATION.

SIR WILLIAM WEDDERBURN

(Banfishire): I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India, if he will grant a Return of Evictions, Sales for Recovery of Land Revenue, and other matters regarding the Madras Land Revenue Administration in the form in which notice has been given.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR HAMILTON, INDIA (Lord GEORGE Middlesex, Ealing): I have not at present the information asked for by the hon. Baronet, but if he wishes it, I will write to the Government of Madras and request them to furnish it.

EGYPTIAN RESERVE FUND. MR. E. H. PICKERSGILL (Bethnal Green, S.W.): I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, whether the control of the general reserve MR. CURZON: No, Sir; no protest fund of Egypt is governed by a Khedivial has been received from the Porte. The decree, dated 21st July 1888; whether Sultan has made inquiries as to the this decree empowers the Egyptian nature and objects of the military opera- Government to apply the money belongtions against the Dervishes and explana- ing to the fund-à des dépenses extrations have been given. No previous ordinaires engagées conformément à l'avis notice was given to the Turkish Govern- préalable de la Commission de la Delte; ment of the intended advance, nothing having been done or being contemplated that is beyond the competence of the Khedive, as recognised in the Firmans, or that requires special authority from the Sultan.

MR. W. REDMOND: May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether it is the fact that the Khedive has power to start an Expedition of this kind without making any representation on the matter to the Porte first?

whether large sums have been advanced out of the fund without the unanimous consent of the Commissioners; and, if so, what are the dates and circumstances of such precedents?

MR. CURZON: (1) The General Reserve Fund was established, and its objects defined by, the Khedive's decree of the 12th of July 1888. (2) Yes. (3) Lord Cromer, in his report, recently laid, stated that, out of the general reserve fund, a sum of about £E1,327,000

is pledged as advances on account of which I am able to avail myself. As to railways and other works of public France, on March 19 last there were 50 utility. (4) We have no information as millions of silver in the Bank of France, to the voting upon the decisions which but notes were issued against the whole have hitherto been taken by the Com- of this amount. missioners in regard to expenditure MR. KIMBER: The right hon. Genfrom the reserve fund, but it has never tleman has not answered my Question as hitherto been suggested that a vote of to whether, before entering into any enthe majority would not be sufficient. Ingagement, the Government will give the the general financial work of the Com- House and the country an opportunity of mission numerous precedents exist for considering the proposal? decisions by the vote of the majority, and this is the recognised and ordinary method of procedure.

INDIAN MINTS.

MR. H. KIMBER (Wandsworth): I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury, (1) whether, before making any International engagement on the subject of reopening the Indian Mints and keeping them open for free coinage of silver, he will give the House and country the opportunity of considering the proposals and their effect; and, (2) whether he can obtain information through any of the Government Departments as to what is the amount of silver now lying idle in the Treasuries of the United States, and of France and Germany respectively?

THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY: I thought I had indicated to my hon. Friend that I did not propose to give any pledge on the subject. As far as my experience goes, the House of Commons always finds some opportunity for discussing any matter of interest. But I should not like to pledge the Government to bring the question before the House before they arrived at a decision.

PRIVATE BUSINESS.

MR. WILLIAM ALLEN: I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury, whether there is any grave objection to altering the order of Business of the House, so that on each day on which the House meets at Three o'clock the ballot for Notices of Motion (if any) shall be THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREA- taken at ten minutes past Three o'clock SURY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR, Manches- and Questions immediately thereafter, ter, E.) I should be unwilling to pledge and that Private Business shall be taken the Government on the subject men- on each such day immediately after tioned in the Question. It will be re- Questions. membered that the principal alteration THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREAin our system which was promised by the SURY: I do not think that the present Chancellor of the Exchequer in relation method of carrying on the discussion of to an International agreement had private Bills is altogether satisfactory. reference to the opening of the Indian It upsets the general arrangements of Mints. Now the Indian Mints were the House, and sometimes makes it imclosed without the consent of Parliament, possible to say when public business will and I do not know why Parliament begin, however important it may be. should be consulted if the Mints were But I have ready no solution of the again opened. With regard to the difficulty, which has pressed upon the second paragraph, I have no official in- present as well as on the late Governformation at my disposal which would ment. Whether the difficulty might be enable me to give with any feeling of met by discussing Private Business after security the Question put to me by my twelve-[cheers and laughter]-I do not hon. Friend. But so far as I can make know, but I sometimes think so. out, there are at present in the Treasury of the United States 96 millions sterling of silver, against which there are notes CURRENT WAGE CLAUSE IN GOVERNin circulation for the whole amount less eight millions. That is to say, there are

MENT CONTRACTS.

SIR ALBERT ROLLIT (Islington,

88 millions of silver notes against 96 S.): I beg to ask the First Lord of the millions of silver in the Treasury. In Treasury, whether the Government will Germany there are no returns issued of move, or give facilities for moving, for a Mr. Curzon.