HC Deb 21 July 1882 vol 272 cc1222-5
MR. O'DONNELL

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether he has seen the statement in the recent speech of M. de Frey-cinet— That England loyally supported France in opposing the intervention of the Sultan in Egypt as Sovereign of that Country, hut only as mandatory of Europe; and, whether he has addressed any representations to the French Government on the subject?

SIR CHARLES W. DILKE

The sentence quoted is not very clear in the reports, and it is not the custom of Her Majesty's Government, as I have often stated, to take any notice of declarations made in foreign Assemblies by foreign Ministers; but the policy of Her Majesty's Government will be found in great detail in the Papers. Perhaps it may be convenient that I should now state that the Government are going to lay before the House this afternoon further Papers on the Egyptian Question in addition to those which, we hope, will be distributed to-morrow. The Papers we are now laying on the Table will, we hope, be in the hands of hon. Members on Monday morning. The Papers will include the instructions of Her Majesty's Government to Lord Duffer in on going into the Conference, and the Identic Note to the Porte asking the Porte to send troops to Egypt. To that document I referred yesterday, and it will be presented in French as well as in English. Among the Papers will be the Declaration of Prance and England with regard to the Suez Canal, which I also read to the House yesterday, and an extract from the supplementary instructions to Lord Dufferin as to not excluding the co-operation of Turkey and other Powers. We cannot, however, give the whole of the latest instructions to Lord Dufferin as long as the Conference is sitting; but the most important will be given. The Papers will also include the answer of the Porte to the invitation to send troops. That answer was received yesterday.

MR. O'DONNELL

Before the expected debate on Monday, will any information be supplied by the Government as to the origin of the riots at Alexandria on June 11, as to whether they originated on the Egyptian or the European side, and as to the comparative loss of life on both sides? I shall press the matter further, because I consider it absolutely essential to the consideration of the policy of Her Majesty's Government.

SIR H. DRUMMOND WOLFF

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty when Sir Beauchamp Seymour's Report on the proceedings of the 11th of June would be presented?

MR. CAMPBELL - BANNERMAN

It will be laid on the Table as soon as possible—I should think in time for circulation on Monday or Tuesday.

SIR H. DRUMMOND WOLFF

Will it be laid in time for Monday's debate? It is six weeks old now.

MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN

I am uncertain whether it can be laid on the Table in time for the debate; but I will do all that can be done.

MR. BOURKE

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs a Question arising out of the answer he has just given—namely, Whether the Papers to be laid on the Table will explain what is meant by the phrase "sole action," for the Prime Minister the other day drew a distinction between the Protocole de Désintéressement and what he called "sole action?" I cannot find anything in the Papers relating to that; but I should like to know whether, if such a document exists, it will be laid on the Table with the Papers to which the hon. Baronet has just alluded? Perhaps the hon. Baronet will also inform the House whether there is any news from Alexandria that he can conveniently communicate?

SIR CHARLES W. DILKE

I have not received any news. I do not know whether the Admiralty have received any to-day. With regard, to the Question as to further Papers respecting the Protocole de Désinteréssement, and the understanding of the Conference as to "sole action"—which was not, strictly speaking, a protocol—neither of them can be laid on the Table, because they are a part of the proceedings of the Conference which the Ambassadors do not wish to be made public. They are repeatedly alluded to in the newspapers and in this House; but we cannot present them in view of the declaration of the Ambassadors.

MR. BOURKE

Can the hon. Member explain what the meaning of the phrase "sole action" was, because I understood the Prime Minister to say that the reason of the action of the Government with respect to the Suez Canal has arisen out of the agreement as to the "sole action," and not out of the Protocole de Désintéressement?

SIR CHARLES W. DILKE

If a Question is placed on the Paper for Monday I will give the fullest answer it is possible to give; and, if necessary, I will communicate with Lord Dufferin by telegraph.

SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTE

Possibly the Secretary to the Admiralty can let us know whether there is any news from Alexandria.

MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN

I have no news to give to the House; in fact, there is none.

MR. O'KELLY

On Monday I will ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether his attention has been called to a statement published this morning that a number of respectable inhabitants in Alexandria have been robbed by British soldiers, and will ask if measures are to be taken for their punishment?

SIR CHARLES W. DILKE

I would suggest to the hon. Member that the Question had better be addressed to the military authorities, as the matter would not come under my cognizance.

MR. GLADSTONE

I have quite recently received a telegram, which contains nothing but what appears to be a summary or partial citation from Proclamations by Arabi; but as it is of some interest it may be well to make it known to the House. The telegram runs as follows:— Two Proclamations of Arabi to various Provinces in Egypt have been issued. He calls on all Egyptians to assist in expelling' their irreconcilable enemies—the English. He accuses the Khedive of treason, and of keeping the Ministers in Alexandria by force. He charges the English with killing Egyptian troops and of shooting unarmed Egyptians in the streets. He adds that the Khedive remains at night among the English, and by day returns to shore to order the continued slaughter of Mohammedans in the streets of Alexandria. This is the citation, and I have omitted only a few words in the telegram, which are not material to the information of the House. He further states— The entire country is under military law as heretofore, and that only his orders are to be obeyed. Military preparations are to be actively pursued, and disobedience will be summarily punished.

MR. W. H. SMITH

Have the Government any information as to the reported closing or damming of the mouth of the Suez Canal?

MR. GLADSTONE

Nothing whatever beyond what was communicated yesterday.

MR. LEAMY

There is a statement that great pressure has been brought to bear on the Khedive to induce him to declare Arabi a rebel. Is that true?

SIR CHARLES W. DILKE

This is a Question which seems to me to come within the category of those which, according to the declaration of the Prime Minister yesterday, touched on debatable matters. It is one, therefore, that I cannot answer.