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asked for any gift, or loan, or guarantee, in connection therewith "(p. 39).—We come now to the year 1875.
"On the 18th January, 1875, a bill for the French section of the Tunnel was laid on the table of the National Assembly, and on the 20th January, 1875, a copy of the English Channel Tunnel Bill, to be submitted in the approaching Session of Parliament, was sent by the Board of Trade to the Foreign Office, with a recommendation that this Bill should be so modified during its passage through Parliament as to secure the public interests involved in the construction of the Tunnel" (p. 40).
On the 10th of February, 1875, the appointment of "a joint committee of representatives from both nations to draw up a provisional code of regulations," was suggested in a communication from the Secretary to the Treasury with the Foreign Office (pp. 62, 63).
"On the 14th February, 1875, Lord Lyons proposed to the French Government the appointment of such a Joint Commission," which was agreed to, and accordingly three Commissioners were appointed on each side. Before, however, the Joint Commission met, "both Bills were passed in the course of the summer, receiving the assent of Her Majesty, and of President MacMahon respectively, on the same date (2nd August, 1875)."
It will be proper to mention before going further, that the British Commissioners, who were Captain Tyler, RE., Mr. Kennedy, and Mr. Horace Watson, held a preliminary investigation, examined witnesses (between 21st April and 10th May, 1875; pp. 90-113), among whom were Lord Richard Grosvenor, M.P., the Chairman of the Channel Tunnel Company (who was also examined, November 22, 1875, p. 175), Sir John Hawkshaw, and Mr. Brunlees, the Engineers, Mr. Bellingham, the Secretary, Sir Edward William Watkin, M.P., Mr. James S. Forbes, Mr. John Shaw, and Colonel C. Nugent, and they presented a preliminary report to the Treasury, May 10th, 1875 (pp. 81-84).
"The character of these two Bills" (those above mentioned) "was very different, the French measure being a definite concession to the promoters of the proposed railway, of a right to
