COLONEL SYKESsaid, he wished to ask the Secretary of State for India, Whether there is any, and what foundation for a rumour circulating in Bombay that 1512 troops have been told off for an expedition into Abyssinia?
§ SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTEsaid, in reply, that there was no truth in the rumour to which the hon. and gallant Gentleman referred. No troops had been told off for an expedition to Abyssinia; but the Government were engaged in a correspondence which they hoped might lead to the release of the British subjects now detained in that country. No measures of force to accomplish that object were, however, at present contemplated. It was true that he had addressed private communications to his right hon. Friend the Governor of Bombay requesting him confidentially to inform him what could be done in the event of any measure of force being resorted to; but no such instructions as the Question implied had been sent out to Bombay, and the correspondence had been of a most private character.