§ MR. HANBURY (for Sir H. DRUMMOND WOLFF)asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whe- 1648 ther any attempt has been made since July 24, 1876, to conclude an arrangement with the Governments of Turkey and Egypt for the suppression of the Slave Trade in the Red Sea; and, whether, as then promised, any step has been taken for the establishment of Consular Agencies in the Red Sea in conjunction with such arrangement?
§ MR. BOURKESir, in reply to the hon. Member for Tamworth, I have to state that a draft Treaty for the suppression of the Slave Trade in the Red Sea and on the Egyptian Coast of the Red Sea has been sent to our Consular Agent at Egypt, and we hope for the early conclusion of that Treaty. With regard to the Consular Agencies on the Red Sea, my hon. Friend will see that the establishment of these Consular Agencies greatly depends upon the negotiations now in progress under the Treaty to which I have alluded, but I can assure my hon. Friend the question has not been lest sight of by Her Majesty's Government, and I may mention that on the recommendation of Colonel Gordon and of our Consul General in Egypt a Consular Agent has been appointed at Khartoum.
§ MR. HANBURY (for Sir H. DRUMMOND WOLFF)asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, Whether, in compliance with the instructions stated by him, on the 24th of July 1876, to have been given at the commencement of that year, any of Her Majesty's ships of war have called at the Red Sea ports, and whether any Reports have been received respecting the Slave Trade in the Red Sea; and, if so, whether such Reports can be laid upon the Table?
§ MR. HUNTYes, Sir. Two ships have called at the ports in the Red Sea, the Dwarf and the Fawn. I believe that the Report from the Fawn has been already promised to the House, and the Report from the Dwarf I understand there will be no objection to lay on the Table. The Foreign Office will lay Reports upon the Slave Trade on the Table of the House, and these will be included in those Papers.