MR. GORSTasked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether the Egyptian Government have in the trial of Arabi and the other political prisoners adopted the rule laid down by Lord Granville in his Despatch to Sir Edward Malet of 23rd October 1882, that
No arguments or evidence as to political motives or reasons in justification of the offences charged shall be admitted;whether this condition will, in accordance with another rule laid down in the same Despatch be "rigidly enforced" against Arabi's counsel; and, whether the Correspondence between Arabi and persons of influence in Egypt and Con- 1126 stantinople will be thereby excluded from the consideration of the Court?
MR. GLADSTONEIn answer to this Question, I must refer the hon. Member to what has already been said by my hon. Friend the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, because it seems to me that the Question appears to be prompted by the idea that the general rules of proceeding in the Court are fixed by us, which is not the case. Her Majesty's Government have declined to take any part in the conduct of the trial, though they will watch the proceedings on the principles upon which they have already acted. The Court must determine all questions with respect to the relevance of any arguments or evidence that may be offered with reference to the charges against the prisoners. Her Majesty's Government do not propose to dictate to the Court in any way as to the manner in which they shall deal with such questions, and they have laid down no rule, although they have stated their views of the principles on which they think the powers of the Court ought to be exercised, and made general suggestions which are already known to the House.
MR. GORSTIs the House to understand that the rules laid down by Lord Granville in the despatch to Sir Edward Malet, of the 23rd of October, 1882, have been absolutely and unreservedly withdrawn?