No. From whom and to whom.

Date.

Subject.

consuls-general of Germany, Austria-Hungary, France, Great Britain, and Italy in relation to the said commission.

No. 391.-Egyptian finances: commission of liqui dation appointed to regulate same; opinion of the Russian Government expressed in a circular to the five great powers of Europe, that all the powers participating in the formation of the new tribunals should be represented; not withstanding which, the Khedive, at the instance of England and France, issues a decree under date of 31st March, 1880, establishing a commission to be constituted only of the five great powers, giving to France and England a majority of the members, and consequently the full and complete control of its every action; formal reserve of the Russian Government declared as to every act thereof; this is deemed to be a polite form of protest; necessity for a commission of liquidation diminished by recent decision of International Court of Appeals at Alexandria; rate of interest reduced in May, 1879, from 3 to 2 per cent., the latter being the amount of semiannual interest fixed by the Khedivial decree of November, 1876, issued under the GoshenJoubert contract, and further lowered in November, 1879, to 2 per cent.; in a recent action brought in the court of first instance, at Alexandria, to recover balance of per cent. unpaid on coupons of May, 1879, the court held that it had no jurisdiction in cases of this nature under the Egyptian code; decision confirmed by court of appeals, thus leaving the government free to reduce its rate of interest on its consolidated bonds at will without judicial interference. No. 399.-Slave-trade; arrest of thirty-five persons accused of being slave traders at Assioût, and rescue of sixty-eight slaves. No. 403.-The slave-trade in Egypt; rescue of slaves from a railway train from Assioût; another slave caravan surprised in the desert; action of the authorities; the British consulgeneral demands active measures; Count Sala appointed controller-general at Assioût; difficulties in the way of preventing the traffic; popular sympathy in favor of slavery. (See Mr. Farman's No. 399, of May 5, 1880, page 1008, supra.) No. 410.-Tribunals of reform in Egypt; proposition of the Government of the Khedive to con tinue the same for another five years. No. 412.-The commission of liquidation; official request of the Egyptian Government for the adhesion of the United States to the scheme; the work of the commission explained; adhesion of all the powers except the United Sta ́es and Russia; Mr. Farman's views as to the action of the United States; text of Mustapha Fehmi's note. No. 170.-Commission of liquidation; the request of the Egyptian Government for the adhesion of the United States considered; previous ap plication by French Government for such adhesion and unfavorable response thereto; answer now made to Egyptian Government that, although American participation in the commission is not deemed essential. yet this government is indisposed to accredit in advance the decisions of the commission which may affect American interests, and reserves direct relation with the Khedive's government in such case; this position is not regarded as interfering with the Khedive's freedom to arrange his debt with other powers, but if it should occasion embarrassment the question will be considered favorably toward Egypt. (See Department's No. 174, of July 20, '80, to Mr. Farman, page 1020.) No. 416.-The obelisk; departure of LieutenantCommander Gorringe with the Dessoug from Alexandria and arrival at Gibraltar.