§ THE EARL OF DERBYI rise to put to the noble Earl the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the Question of which I have given Notice—namely, Whether it is the fact that a mission sent to Her Majesty's Government by a friendly Abyssinian Chief has been detained in Egypt by the refusal of the Foreign Office to receive such mission or to assist in providing for the expenses of its transport from thence to England? It is not at all my object, in putting this Question, to suggest the re-establishment of regular diplomatic or consular relations between Abyssinia and this country. I do not think that in the present state of affairs such a step would be attended with advantage—I conceive that serious embarrassment might be the result. The Chief in question, however, Prince Kassa, rendered valuable service to the British Government at the time of the Abyssinian War, and it would be matter of regret if anything should happen which might seem to cast a slur upon him. After what has appeared in the public papers, I think the noble Earl will not object to have an opportunity of stating how the matter stands.
§ EARL GRANVILLEI may answer the Question of my noble Friend by stating that we have not refused to receive this mission from Prince Kassa; but, on the other hand, we have not undertaken to pay the expense of bringing the mission over to this country. It will probably be more satisfactory to 982 my noble Friend to know the precise facts of the case. At the end of 1869 letters addressed to the Queen were received at the Foreign Office from Prince Gobazye, Prince Kassa, and another Abyssinian Chief. They were acknowledged in writing by Lord Clarendon, and presents were then sent to each of the Chiefs. Before answers were sent, Lord Clarendon consulted the India Office and Lord Napier of Magdala as to the course which it was best to take. The result was a recommendation that any future communications between the different Princes of Abyssinia and ourselves should be addressed to our Resident at Aden and not to this country. There were obvious reasons for this—one being that the Princes are jealous of each other, and that there would be a danger of one considering himself more favoured than another by the mode in which his communication might possibly be answered. On Lord Napier's advice care was taken not to offer arms and munitions of war which could be used against one another, and to give them good advice, recommending them to live in as much harmony as possible with each other, and thus to avoid the dangers to which internal strife might lead. All this was embodied in Lord Clarendon's reply. He told the Princes that it would be well if they would address any communication for the British authorities to the British Resident at Aden, who was fully informed of all that concerned Abyssinia, and of the sentiments entertained by the Queen towards them, as they would thus be able to receive an answer in much shorter time than would otherwise be the case. A letter afterwards came from one of these Princes, who addressed himself to the Resident in conformity with Lord Clarendon's advice. This was acknowledged, the presents were received, and a present was sent in return. Prince Kassa, however, has not followed the recommendation, but sent Envoys to Egypt, and put himself in communication with Colonel Stanton, our Consul General in Egypt, his wish being that his Envoys should come on to England. Neither the Treasury nor the India Office were much inclined to supply the funds necessary for that purpose; but a courteous communication was forwarded to Colonel Stanton, explaining that it was not deemed advisable to put 983 the Envoys to the trouble of so long a journey during an inclement season; but that Prince Kassa's letter, if forwarded, would be received and properly answered. It was certainly not intended to show the slightest discourtesy to anybody connected with Abyssinia; but what was done was in conformity with the advice given by Lord Napier that no distinction should be made between the different Princes which might create jealousies, particularly at a time when it is not desirable to give any of them cannon or guns, which would probably be used against the others.