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Egyptian Delegate was provided for only under Article II of the Convention, and that this was intended only with the view of enabling the Khedive to choose a Delegate to accompany the Turkish High Commissioner and myself to the frontier, in case we considered it necessary to go there. It would be impossible for the Khedive to appoint a High Commissioner on the same footing as the officers of Her Majesty and of the Sultan. This explanation he considered satisfactory.

With regard to the evacuation of the country, I told him I could not even discuss the possibility of a term for the purpose. I had shown the Representatives of the foreign Powers at Constantinople that any declaration on this subject would be most dangerous, and they had unanimously recognized the justice of this reserve.

M. d'Aunay then asked me whether economies were to be pursued in the salaries of the officials, and he stated his objections to the diminutions of the salaries of the Commissioners of the Debt, unless those of other functionaries, who were highly remunerated, were reduced on the same scale.

To this I replied that the reduction of salaries was always an invidious task, and that, as far as my opinion went, I should prefer to establish the balance of the Budget in the first instance by other means, Heart-burnings had been created by the dismissal both of foreign and native officials, and I should be glad to interfere as little as possible with individual interests; but the question must be examined.

M. d'Aunay summed up his remarks by saying that his private and personal desire was to act cordially with me, but that he could not hold the same language to the French colony, and that I must make allowances for the delicacy of his position.

Having known M. d'Aunay when in London, I was rather astonished at the excitement, not to say bitterness, which, perhaps unintentionally, pervaded his remarks. His constant recurrence to the question of the evacuation of the country by British troops, and his appeals to my good faith were perfectly unnecessary, and in substance were at variance with the conciliatory feelings he expressed.

Since seeing him I met a gentleman with whom I was well acquainted in the House of Commons, of which he is not now a member, who told me he had travelled with M. d'Aunay from Bologna to Alexandria, and that his language towards England was not only bitter but vindictive. He said that the object of his mission was to procure the evacuation of Egypt by England, and that such were his instructions.

As no doubt his views are very much those of the Turkish party here, and may be those of Moukhtar Pasha, difficulties might arise if Count d'Aunay takes an active part in propagating his own views.

I learn, however, though not from a first-rate source, that the Turkish High Commissioner has told the Khedive that during the conferences about to take place between us it would not be desirable to effect any change of Government, as it appears plain that Nubar Pasha enjoys the support of the English.

The French papers here announce from time to time the rumours of changes in the Egyptian Government, all pointing to the substitution of Chérif Pasha for the present President of the Council. If the French Agency were to attempt to promote any such change, their action in so doing would be vexatious and unfriendly, and with the sole object of adding to our difficulties, as no change of Government could in any way substantially alter the situation.

I know that M. Barrère was in favour of such a change. In fact he told me so. But I trust that the French Government, however much it may differ from us in policy, will not worry us in detail, as their so doing would have as its sole effect the increase of the hostility at present existing between the colonies, which reacts by private correspondence and the press on public feeling in Europe.

I have, &c.

H. DRUMMOND WOLFF.

(Signed)

No. 2.

Sir H. Drummond Wolff to the Marquis of Salisbury.—(Received January 19.)

(No. 16.) My Lord,

Cairo, January 9, 1886. TO-DAY, in pursuance of an invitation from His Highness the Khedive, I had the honour of an interview with His Highness and his Excellency Moukhtar Pasha, with the object of discussing the best means of carrying out the provisions of the Convention of the 24th October, 1885. We were quite alone.

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