ENGLISH & FOREIGN [BY TELEGRAPH-COPYRIGHT.] [REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.]

Waikato Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1868, 26 June 1884, Page 3

ENGLISH & FOREIGN [BY TELEGRAPH-COPYRIGHT.] [REUTERS TELEGRAMS.]

The Anglo-French Agreement. London, June 23. The following is the substance of the Convention which, as Lord Kimbeiley announced in the House ot Lords on 10th instant, has been agreed to by the French and English Governments as a preliminary to holding the projected European Conference on Egyptian alF.iiis. By the terms of the Comention it is stipulated that the present British occupation shall cease and the British troops be wit lull awn at the beginning of 1883, if the other European Powers consider that the stability and tianqnility of the country will be sufficient to warrant the adoption of such a course, With regaidto the question of Egyptian finances, it is at»ieed that, in older to secure the control of the Egyptian national debt, and extended control of the budget, the office of President of the Egyptian Council of MiuUteis shall be held by an Englishman. The Convention also refers to the necessity for ensuring the preservation of Egjptian neutrality in time of war. In this connection England engages hereafter to propose for ndoption by the Powers a tieaty similar to that by which, in 1870, England, Pru-=s a, and Fiance agieed to respect the ncutulity of tho kingdom of Belgium. Similar measures arc also to be adopted with the view of mainti.ning the neutiality of the Sue/ Canal A Press Association message says : — By the teims of the Anglo-Fiench Convention on the Egyptian question, France engages not to occupy Egypt without the consent of England, and abandon its ciaim for the ie\ival of the system of dual control. The agi cement to neutralise t~^ the Suez Canal is based upon Loid Gianvillc's circular of Jauu.uy, 18S3. Mr Gladstone has stated that the agieement is entirely contingent upon the results of the projected Confeicnce, but that if Pailiament i ejects it the Government will losign. He also stated that the questi"ii of the eight million Egyptian loan will not be mentioned until sanctioned by the Conference.

June "24. In the House of Commons, Li-t night, Mr Gladstone in.ule a statement re»aicling the Convention win- h had been concluded between England and France in respect to Egyptian a (Tans. The Premier announced that it was optional with England to withdraw her troops from Egypt before 1888, and that Fiance had lepudiated the idea that she desired the renewal of dual control, or AngloFiench occupation after the Biitish evacuating. The Premier fuither stated that the Confeience of European delegates will meet on Sunday (ak) to decide upon Egyptian financial questions, and that then decision theicon would be submitted to Pailiament, and, failing the appioval of same, Government would resign.