§ MR. O'DONNELLasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, With regard to the Dispatch (Egypt, No. 7) from Sir E. Malet to Lord Granville, dated Cairo, May 14th, in which Sir E. Malet informs his Lordship that—
His French colleague and himself think that the political advantage of the arrival of the combined squadron at Alexandria is so great as to override in consideration the danger which it might possibly cause to Europeans in Cairo;whether he can inform the House what 410 was the political advantage referred to; and, whether that political advantage has been obtained?
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKEI must leave the hon. Member to form his own opinions.
§ MR. O'DONNELLSir, I think I have a right to receive at least a courteous answer, and if it is necessary for me to conclude with a Motion I will do so. This is a matter of very great importance and is capable of being answered in a straightforward manner. In the Papers laid on the Table it appears that Sir Edward Malet telegraphed to Lord Granville, saying that his French Colleague and himself thought that the political advantages of the arrival of the combined Squadrons at Alexandria would be so great as to override in consideration the danger which it might possibly cause to Europeans at Cairo. Now, I was under the impression, as I believe the House was, that the dispatch of the Fleets to Alexandria was to protect life and property; but I find here the authorized Agent of England saying that, on the contrary, the protection of British life and property was of secondary consideration; that the political advantage that was visible to our Representatives, and also to the French Representatives, was so great as to induce our Representatives to concur in the plan of a combined expedition, even at risk to European life and property. Now, I do not want to draw unnecessary conclusions, but this is an official Paper which certainly requires explanation. I do not propose to raise any debate upon the answer of the Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs; but I am entitled—when the country is told that a political advantage was in view of such importance as to make the protection of life and property a secondary consideration—I am entitled to know what that political advantage was, and whether that political advantage has been obtained, or whether all that danger was brought on life and property without even obtaining the political advantage aimed at. The answers of the Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs are becoming shorter, as the memory of this House is becoming longer, and just at the very time when we are entitled to know something the Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs, who used to be very communicative, refuses to tell us anything. I should ask 411 him now to give me an answer, even although it should turn out in a week or two that it would be no more correct than the generality of his answers have been down to the present. I beg to move the adjournment of the House.
§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That this House do now adjourn."—(Mr. O'Donnell.)
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKEI was going to say, when I heard the first portion of the hon. Member's remarks, that I intended my answer to be very courteous, and I am sorry if he thought it was not; but I certainly feel exonerated from making any apology by his reference towards the close of the accuracy or inaccuracy of my statements.
§ MR. O'DONNELLMy reference was to inaccuracy of fact. I intended no imputation on the veracity of the hon. Baronet.
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKEI intended my answer as a means of showing that it was impossible to fully answer the Questions of the hon. Member. It would be utterly impossible for the Government to defend their Egyptian policy until they can defend it as a whole, with all the facts before the House, and I am perfectly convinced they will then receive the support of a majority of this House. The hon. Member complains that there has been a difference of opinion as to the objects for which the Fleet was dispatched to Alexandria. Some time ago I used certain words in reply to a Question by the hon. Baronet the Member for Carlisle (Sir Wilfrid Lawson), at the time of the dispatch of the Fleet to Alexandria, and I can only refer the hon. Member to that statement as being a full description of the objects for which the Fleet was sent to Alexandria.
§ MR. O'DONNELLbegged to withdraw his Motion.
§ Motion, by leave, withdrawn.