§ BARON HENRY DE WORMSasked the Secretary to the Admiralty, Whether, in view of the fact that, in consequence of Admiral Sir Beauchamp Seymour's Despatch of the 29th of May last (Blue Book, Egypt, No. 8), remonstrances were then made to the Egyptian authorities on the construction of earthworks at Alexandria, and that, notwithstanding these remonstrances, the earthworks have since been mounted with heavy guns pointed at Her Majesty's ships "Monarch" and "Invincible," Her Majesty's Government will not at once take steps not only to prevent the completion of these works, but also to enforce their dismantlement?
§ MR. ONSLOWasked the Secretary to the Admiralty, Whether instructions have been sent to the Admiral commanding the East India Station to place a sufficient number of vessels of the 1784 Royal Navy to act as convoy to the ships conveying troops from India to Egypt, in the event of this contingency being deemed necessary?
§ MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANSir, I regret to say that it is my duty to decline to give the information which the hon. Member for Greenwich asks for. I must make the same answer to the Question of the hon. Member for Guildford.
§ MR. ONSLOWSir, if that is to be the answer, then I would like to know whether any arrangements have been made by the Admiralty to guard against the possibility of any attempt to prevent the landing of troops from India in Egypt in the event of its being found necessary to land a force? I give Notice of this Question as a hint to the hon. Gentleman. Of course, if he says in the interests of the Public Service it should not be answered, I cannot expect an answer.
§ MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANI need hardly say that such, a measure would not escape the attention of the naval and military authorities; but I can give no other information on the subject at present.