HC Deb 02 November 1882 vol 274 cc653-4
MR. BOURKE

asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether he will lay upon the Table of the House the Despatch of Sir Garnet Wolseley, proposing to hand over to the Khedive all prisoners of war taken in course of the late operations in Egypt?

MR. CHILDERS

Sir, in reply to the right hon. Gentleman, I have to say that Sir Garnet Wolseley's despatch was a confidential one, relating to many other matters. In it he asked—I quote his words—whether he should hand over to the Khedive the chief rebels whom, he might capture, and, in reply, he was informed that this was approved in the language of Lord Granville's letter of the 28th of August to Sir Edward Malet—No. 73 of "Egypt, No. 18."

MR. BOURKE

Sir, was not that a letter written by Lord Granville in answer to one which Sir Garnet Wolseley wrote, asking whether persons who wished to be delivered over to the Khedive might be so delivered, but saying nothing whatever about prisoners of war? Did not the letter relate to three officers who wished to go to Alexandria; and, if so, would it be a justification for handing over prisoners of war?

MR. CHILDERS

Perhaps the right hon. Gentleman had better give Notice of the precise Question?

MR. BOURKE

I have, Sir.

MR. CHILDERS

No, Sir; the Question as it stands on the Paper has been answered.

LORD JOHN MANNERS

Will there be any difficulty in giving that portion of the confidential despatch which refers to the rendition of prisoners of war?

MR. CHILDERS

There is some confusion in the Questions of hon. Gentlemen opposite, which had better be cleared up before any others are put.