MR. G. W. ELLIOTgave Notice that, on Monday next, he would ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether, as he had stated that anarchy would not be allowed to continue in 1276 Egypt, he had seen the report of a speech made by the Italian Foreign Minister, to the effect that Italy would not consent to the armed intervention of certain Powers, and whether that referred to England and France?
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKESir, I shall not be able to answer the Question more fully on Monday than I can answer it now. I can assure the hon. Member that the Italian Government is acting completely in concert with Her Majesty's Government in the steps that are being taken at Constantinople. I think it only courteous to add that the Government always declines to discuss what is said by foreign Ministers in foreign Assemblies.
§ SIR WALTER B. BARTTELOTI should like to ask the hon. Baronet a Question already put to him by the hon. Member for Roscommon (Mr. O'Kelly), but which he did not answer—namely, Whether a requisition has been made by the Khedive or Dervish Pasha that 18,000 Turkish troops should at once be sent to Alexandria from Constantinople? If that is the case, it would take some days before those troops could arrive; and I should like to know, in the present position of affairs, whether, supposing an outbreak, which is said to be imminent at any moment, should occur, and supposing the Egyptian troops should also rise against the European inhabitants, what steps Her Majesty's Government have ordered to be taken in that event?
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKEThe reason I did not answer the hon. Member for Roscommon was that I did not hear his Question.
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKEI assure the hon. Member I did not hear the terms of it. With regard to the Question just put, a portion of it I am unable to answer. I believe Dervish has on several occasions asked for troops, but I cannot state precisely the number of Turkish troops that have been applied for. It is not in my power to answer the other portion of the Question.
§ SIR GEORGE CAMPBELLAre we to understand that Dervish Pasha has asked for Turkish troops, and the European Powers have concurred?
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKEI really cannot give any answer. There are still 1277 measures being taken by the European Powers at Constantinople in reference to the steps to be taken in Egypt. I cannot answer further.
§ SIR WALTER B. BARTTELOTMay we not get some assurance from the Government that some steps will, at any rate, be taken to protect the European population in Alexandria?
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKEI have already stated that there is a large force of men-of-war at Alexandria, and that Sir Beauchamp Seymour has a large force, which he is empowered to land. No doubt, instructions have been given to some of the foreign admirals to a like effect. It is also probable that seamen and marines will also be landed. Besides the Squadron at Alexandria, five ships, the .Minotaur, the Achilles, the Agincourt, the Northumberland, and the Sultan, left Gibraltar for Malta at 7 o'clock this morning under Sir Beau-champ Seymour's orders.
§ MR. CHAPLINAre we to understand distinctly from the Government that in the event of there being any fear of further massacres at Alexandria sailors and marines will be landed?
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKEThe measures upon which Sir Beauchamp Seymour and Sir Edward Malet may agree will be carried into effect; but I cannot anticipate them. Those on the spot are far better able to judge of the steps to be taken than we can be.
§ SIR JOHN HAYIs it not the fact that even the five ships to be added to the Fleet at Alexandria will not make them capable of landing 1,000 men? Is it not the case, also, that those ships are of too great draught to enter the harbour at Alexandria?
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKEWe have already refused to go into detail on those matters; but I believe it is the fact that considerably more than 1,000 men might be landed.