§ MR. O'KELLYasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether telegrams were sent by Sir Garnet Wolseley to Baker Pacha, urging him to accept the appointment of Generalissimo of the Egyptian Army; whether these telegrams were of a pressing nature, and whether they had any influence in deciding Baker Pacha to quit the Turkish Army; and, whether Her Majesty's Government has been, or is likely to be, consulted by the 1111 Khedive in the re-organization of the Egyptian Army; and, if so, whether Her Majesty's Government will inquire into the circumstances attending Baker Pacha's departure from Constantinople before consenting to his appointment as commanding officer of the Egyptian Army?
§ MR. CHILDERSI have already informed the hon. Member, in answer to Questions on the 2nd and 6th instant, that no official communications passed between Sir Garnet Wolseley and Baker Pasha, either before or after the latter was applied to by the Khedive. I decline to be guilty of the impertinence of asking Sir Garnet Wolseley what his private correspondence may have been with any person; and I should, therefore, have been unable to answer the hon. Member's first Question had I not received spontaneously from Sir Garnet Wolseley, when he read the Question in the papers, a note saying that he sent no telegram of any kind whatever to Baker Pasha, and did not urge him in any way to accept the appointment in question.