Mr. Bourke objected to any Conference at all ; and
Mr. Laing, Sir H. Wolff, Lord J. Manners, and others, maintained that the financial proposals to be made to the Conference were an integral and necessary portion of the scheme. Mr. Goschen, however, observed that Parlia- ment would retain the fullest control over the Resolutions of Conference ; and Mr. Gladstone showed conclusively that he could not reveal the financial plan, as that would diminish the freedom of Government to accept amendments in Conference, and would be discourteous to other Powers. It was believed, therefore, after the debate, that the Vote of Censure would be reserved till the Conference had dispersed ; but the Tory chiefs, yielding to unwise pressure, have asked Mr. Brace, chairman of the Ottoman.Bank, to move, "that the terms of the Agreement are not such as would lead to the establishment of good govern- ment and tranquillity in Egypt, or justify the assumption of responsibility by this country by way of loan." Mr. Gladstone, smiling at his enemies' fatuity, has fixed Monday for the debate, which will, we venture to predict, end in an overwhelming majority for his policy.
