§ SIR GEORGE CAMPBELLI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has noticed lately statements in the public prints attributing much of the anarchy, raiding, and distress in the Soudan to starvation, and particularly a telegram in the Times of 26th August, asserting that famine prevails throughout the Soudan, that many deaths occur daily from starvation at Tokar and other places, and that the Hadendowas are broken up through famine; whether the blockade against the importation of food is still maintained; and whether they will raise the blockade as regards food and articles of peaceful merchandise, and insist that the policy of peace, conciliation, and free trade shall be tried?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Sir J. FERGUSSON,) Manchester, N.E.Accounts of the internal condition of the Soudan cannot be accepted as authentic; but the continued action of predatory bands and of slave-dealing must cause extensive suffering, and the interruption of the means of livelihood. Trade is encouraged through the ports which are under the control of the Egyptian and Italian Governments, but is interfered with if carried on directly with the "hostile tribes, Seeing that it is largely 586 connected with the Slave Trade. I have already said that arms have only been given to certain friendly tribes in order to assist them in defending themselves, and in recovering their property, which has been carried off. The policy pursued is to restore trade and peaceful pursuits; but it is vain to attempt to deal with fanatical leaders who are constantly invading Egyptian territory, and who prevent the revival of commercial intercourse.
§ SIR G. CAMPBELLMay I ask if Her Majesty's ships are employed in a blockade in order to starve these people?
§ SIR J. FERGUSSONI must ask for notice of that question.