THE SUEZ CANAL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1711, 14 November 1887, Page 3

THE SUEZ CANAL

Information from various capitals, corroborating what can be gathered m Paris shows, according to " The Times'' Paris correspondent, the Suez Oanal neutralisation negotiations are m good I tr*ln, and will shortly come to a conclusion. Asked by " The Timea" correspondent for an explanation of how the negotiations Btand, a leading Frenoh statesman replied :— We saw that it was a question of neutralising a atrip of territory, for the Idaa of neutralising all EgyptOttoman territory, sanctioned by a long exoroiap of Turkish rights and nationality —could not occur to anybody. It was a question of neutralising on both sides of the canal, which has already a coaiderable zone attached to It, a atrip Boffiolent to insure that the canal was really neutralised, and we thought that, the principle admitted a teobnioal commission wovld speedily satisfy the most reduced limits and those beat realising the Intentions of the Powers. It now remains to settle the organisation and employment of tbe armed force wh'cb Is to be at the disposal of the coramiislon, and guarantee and protect the neutrality of the canal This !■ certainly a knotty point, bnt I believe it will be speedily settled, for the measures already agreed to plainly necessitate the creation of a military force which will not exceed 20CO men, and will be a nentral corps of an international charaoter, like the commission and like the canal itself. The formation and action of tbia foroe will not, I am oonvlnoed, be long or difficult to settle. Of course we are discussing and agreeing to nothing, except subject to the eventual agreement of the Powers. " i